TW-37, a small-molecule inhibitor of Bcl-2, mediates S-phase cell cycle arrest and suppresses head and neck tumor angiogenesis

Mol Cancer Ther. 2009 Apr;8(4):893-903. doi: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-08-1078.

Abstract

Members of the Bcl-2 family play a major role in the pathobiology of head and neck cancer. We have shown that Bcl-2 orchestrates a cross talk between tumor cells and endothelial cells that have a direct effect on the progression of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Notably, Bcl-2 is significantly up-regulated in the tumor-associated endothelial cells compared with the endothelial cells of normal oral mucosa in patients with HNSCC. Here, we evaluated the effect of TW-37, a small-molecule inhibitor of Bcl-2, on the cell cycle and survival of endothelial cells and HNSCC and on the progression of xenografted tumors. TW-37 has an IC50 of 1.1 micromol/L for primary human endothelial cells and averaged 0.3 micromol/L for head and neck cancer cells (OSCC3, UM-SCC-1, and UM-SCC-74A). The combination of TW-37 and cisplatin showed enhanced cytotoxic effects for endothelial cells and HNSCC in vitro, compared with single drug treatment. Notably, whereas cisplatin led to an expected G2-M cell cycle arrest, TW-37 mediated an S-phase cell cycle arrest in endothelial cells and in HNSCC. In vivo, TW-37 inhibited tumor angiogenesis and induced tumor apoptosis without significant systemic toxicities. Combination of TW-37 and cisplatin enhanced the time to tumor failure (i.e., 4-fold increase in tumor volume), compared with either drug given separately. Collectively, these data reveal that therapeutic inhibition of Bcl-2 function with TW-37 is sufficient to arrest endothelial cells and HNSCC in the S phase of the cell cycle and to inhibit head and neck tumor angiogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Benzamides / pharmacology*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / blood supply*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cisplatin / pharmacology
  • Dermis / cytology
  • Dermis / drug effects
  • Dermis / metabolism
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Endothelium, Vascular / cytology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / drug effects
  • Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / blood supply*
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / pathology
  • Humans
  • In Situ Nick-End Labeling
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, SCID
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / drug therapy*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / metabolism
  • S Phase / drug effects*
  • Sulfones / pharmacology*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Benzamides
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • Sulfones
  • TW-37 compound
  • Cisplatin