MLN2238 synergizes BH3 mimetic ABT-263 in castration-resistant prostate cancer cells by induction of NOXA

Tumour Biol. 2014 Oct;35(10):10213-21. doi: 10.1007/s13277-014-2333-y. Epub 2014 Jul 17.

Abstract

Patients undergoing androgen blockade therapy develop castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), which is associated with Bcl-2 upregulation and results in disease progression and death. In recent years, promising therapeutic agents, such as the BH3-only mimetic ABT-263 and proteasome inhibitors, have been developed and widely evaluated against a broad spectrum of cancer types, including prostate cancer, alone or in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents. In this study, the antitumor efficacy of ABT-263 and MLN2238 were evaluated as single agents and in combination in four CRPC cell lines: PC3, C4-2B, C4-2, and DU145. The viability of the treated cells and markers of apoptosis were assayed. Protein-protein interactions were analyzed by co-immunoprecipitation in drug-treated cells. Lentivirus-mediated short hairpin RNA was used to knockdown Bax, Mcl-1, and NOXA expressions. We found that ABT-263 and MLN2238 alone exhibited a mild cytotoxicity, and in combination, they elicited a synergistic cytotoxic effect in CRPC cells. The cell apoptosis induced by the combination drug treatment was evidenced by enhanced caspase-3 and Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage, and annexin-V-positive staining was significantly depleted by Bax knockdown. MLN2238 treatment upregulated NOXA and Mcl-1 expression, leading NOXA/Mcl-1 complexes to disassociate Bak from its complexes with Mcl-1 and enhancing ABT263-triggered Bax activation. NOXA knockdown by short hairpin RNA significantly attenuated the cytotoxicity of ABT-263 and MLN2238 co-administration. In conclusion, MLN2238 and ABT-263 synergistically triggered apoptosis in CRPC cells by upregulating NOXA and activating Bax, indicating a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of CRPC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aniline Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • BH3 Interacting Domain Death Agonist Protein / agonists
  • Boron Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Drug Synergism
  • Glycine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Glycine / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Immunoblotting
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Male
  • Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / biosynthesis*
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Sulfonamides / pharmacology*
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Aniline Compounds
  • BH3 Interacting Domain Death Agonist Protein
  • BID protein, human
  • Boron Compounds
  • PMAIP1 protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Sulfonamides
  • ixazomib
  • Glycine
  • navitoclax