a gridview row can have multiple modes (templates)
1) like when the row is in Display mode its different (ItemTemplate).
2) when the row is in Edit mode its different (GridEditableItemTemplate)
RadComboBox is thirtparty combobox control, by Telerik.
RadComboBox comboBox = (RadComboBox)editItem[dtBoundColumn.ColumnName].Controls[0];
in the above line, you are trying to acces combobox control, placed inside your gridview row, while grid row is in edit mode.
if you put a combobox inside a gridview (parent -> child), to access the child controls you have to search them inside the row items, and you have to type cast it to original type after searching.
GridEditableItem editItem = e.Item as GridEditableItem;
Yes, editItem is a row Item while in Edit mode.