d-a-Tocopheryl Polyethylene Glycol 1000 Succinate and a small-molecule Survivin suppressant synergistically induce apoptosis in SKBR3 breast cancer cells

Sci Rep. 2019 Oct 7;9(1):14375. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-50884-9.

Abstract

Breast cancer is the second in mortality rate malignancy among women. Despite the many advances in breast cancer treatment, there is still a need to improve drug efficacy and reduce non-specific effects. D-alpha-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS) is frequently used in the development of drug delivery systems to improve the pharmacokinetics of anti-cancer drugs and reduce multi-drug resistance. We have previously shown that TPGS not only acts as a carrier molecule but also exerts anti-cancer effects. As part of this study, we investigated the effect of TPGS with YM155, a small molecule suppressant of Survivin, in various breast cancer cell lines representing different subtypes of the disease. We aimed to evaluate the presumed synergistic effect of the TPGS-YM155 combination and reveal its mechanism of action. Our results show that the TPGS-YM155 combination acts synergistically to reduce specifically the viability of SKBR3 cells. The combination of these agents reduced activation of the AKT pathway, decreased Survivin and Bcl-2 levels, and induced caspase-dependent and independent apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway. Importantly, the TPGS-YM155 combination did not significantly affect the viability of MCF-10A normal immortalized cells. In conclusion, the combination of YM155 and TPGS could be a promising approach against SKBR3-type breast cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Drug Delivery Systems / methods
  • Drug Synergism
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Imidazoles / pharmacology*
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • Naphthoquinones / pharmacology*
  • Survivin / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Survivin / genetics*
  • Vitamin E / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Imidazoles
  • Naphthoquinones
  • Survivin
  • Vitamin E
  • tocophersolan
  • sepantronium