Synergistic Antiproliferative Effects of a New Cucurbitacin B Derivative and Chemotherapy Drugs on Lung Cancer Cell Line A549

Chem Res Toxicol. 2015 Oct 19;28(10):1949-60. doi: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.5b00153. Epub 2015 Sep 25.

Abstract

Nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) represents an important cause of mortality worldwide due to its aggressiveness and growing resistance to currently available therapy. Cucurbitacins have emerged as novel potential anticancer agents showing strong antiproliferative effects and can be promising candidates for combined treatments with clinically used anticancer agents. This study investigates the synergistic antiproliferative effects of a new semisynthetic derivative of cucurbitacin B (DACE) with three chemotherapy drugs: cisplatin (CIS), irinotecan (IRI), and paclitaxel (PAC) on A549 cells. The most effective combinations were selected for studies of the mechanism of action. Using an in silico tool, DACE seems to act by a different mechanism of action when compared with that of different classes of drugs already used in clinical settings. DACE also showed potent synergic effects with drugs, and the most potent combinations induced G2/M cell cycle arrest by modulating survivin and p53 expression, disruption of F-actin cytoskeleton, and cell death by apoptosis. These treatments completely inhibited the clonogenic potential and did not reduce the proliferation of nontumoral lung cells (MRC-5). DACE also showed relevant antimigratory and anti-invasive effects, and combined treatments modulated cell migration signaling pathways evolved with metastasis progression. The effects of DACE associated with drugs was potentiated by the oxidant agent l-buthionine-sulfoximine (BSO), and attenuated by N-acetilcysteine (NAC), an antioxidant agent. The antiproliferative effects induced by combined treatments were attenuated by a pan-caspase inhibitor, indicating that the effects of these treatments are dependent on caspase activity. Our data highlight the therapeutic potential of DACE used in combination with known chemotherapy drugs and offer important insights for the development of more effective and selective therapies against lung cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins / metabolism
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Camptothecin / analogs & derivatives
  • Camptothecin / pharmacology
  • Camptothecin / therapeutic use
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects*
  • Cisplatin / pharmacology
  • Cisplatin / therapeutic use
  • Drug Synergism*
  • G2 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins / metabolism
  • Irinotecan
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • M Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints / drug effects
  • Paclitaxel / pharmacology
  • Paclitaxel / therapeutic use
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Survivin
  • Triterpenes / chemistry
  • Triterpenes / pharmacology*
  • Triterpenes / therapeutic use
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism

Substances

  • Actins
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • BIRC5 protein, human
  • Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Survivin
  • TP53 protein, human
  • Triterpenes
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • cucurbitacin B
  • Irinotecan
  • Paclitaxel
  • Cisplatin
  • Camptothecin