The heat shock protein 90 inhibitor SNX-2112 inhibits B16 melanoma cell growth in vitro and in vivo

Oncol Rep. 2012 Jun;27(6):1904-10. doi: 10.3892/or.2012.1738. Epub 2012 Mar 22.

Abstract

SNX-2112 is a selective heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) inhibitor which can exert a potent anticancer activity. In this study, we investigated the effects of SNX-2112 on B16 melanoma cells in vitro and in vivo. The 3-(4,5-dimetrylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that SNX-2112 dose-dependently inhibited the growth of B16 cells, and induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Western blotting revealed that SNX-2112 lead to the degradation of Hsp90 client proteins including Akt, IKKα, NF-κB, B-Raf and GSK3β. Furthermore, we assessed the antitumor effect of SNX-2112 in vivo, using a xenograft model in C57BL/6 mice. Oral administration of SNX-2112 significantly inhibited the growth of B16 tumors in mice, with a 47% inhibition observed at dose of 80 mg/kg/day for 15 days, compared to control tumors. Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining of xenograft tissues showed that SNX-2112 also inhibited angiogenesis and lead to a lower blood vessel density in the tumors, compared to the control group. These findings demonstrate that SNX-2112 can exhibit a potent anticancer activity against B16 melanoma cells both in vitro and in vivo, by inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in a mechanism dependent on the degradation of Hsp90 client proteins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • G1 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints / drug effects
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins / metabolism
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings / pharmacology*
  • I-kappa B Kinase / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Melanoma, Experimental / drug therapy*
  • Melanoma, Experimental / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • NF-kappa B / drug effects
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings
  • NF-kappa B
  • SNX 2112
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Gsk3b protein, mouse
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Chuk protein, mouse
  • I-kappa B Kinase
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3