Radiosensitization by Chir-124, a selective CHK1 inhibitor: effects of p53 and cell cycle checkpoints.

Checkpoint kinase-1 (CHK1) is a key regulator of the DNA damage-elicited G(2)-M checkpoints. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of a selective CHK1 inhibitor, Chir124, on cell survival and cell cycle progression following ionizing radiation (IR). Treatment with Chir-124 resulted in reduced clonogenic survival and abrogated the IR-induced G(2)-M arrest in a panel of isogenic HCT116 cell lines after IR.