Niclosamide Enhances The Antitumor Effects Of Radiation By Inhibiting The Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1 Alpha/Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Signaling Pathway In Human Lung Cancer Cells

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-associated mortality, worldwide. The overall survival rate remains low, but progress has been made in improving the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer over the past decades. Niclosamide, a salicylanilide derivative used for the treatment of tapeworm infections, is safe, well tolerated, inexpensive and readily available. Previous studies have identified niclosamide as a potential anticancer agent. The present study demonstrated that niclosamide enhanced the effect of irradiation by inhibiting the hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha/ vascular endothelial growth factor signaling pathway. These findings suggest that niclosamide may be a promising candidate for clinical evaluation as part of a combined regimen for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.