WEE1 inhibition in pancreatic cancer cells is dependent on DNA repair status in a context dependent manner

Sci Rep. 2016 Sep 12:6:33323. doi: 10.1038/srep33323.

Abstract

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is a lethal disease, in part, because of the lack of effective targeted therapeutic options. MK-1775 (also known as AZD1775), a mitotic inhibitor, has been demonstrated to enhance the anti-tumor effects of DNA damaging agents such as gemcitabine. We evaluated the efficacy of MK-1775 alone or in combination with DNA damaging agents (MMC or oxaliplatin) in PDA cell lines that are either DNA repair proficient (DDR-P) or deficient (DDR-D). PDA cell lines PL11, Hs 766T and Capan-1 harboring naturally selected mutations in DNA repair genes FANCC, FANCG and BRCA2 respectively, were less sensitive to MK-1775 as compared to two out of four representative DDR-P (MIA PaCa2 and PANC-1) cell lines. Accordingly, DDR-P cells exhibit reduced sensitivity to MK-1775 upon siRNA silencing of DNA repair genes, BRCA2 or FANCD2, compared to control cells. Only DDR-P cells showed increased apoptosis as a result of early mitotic entry and catastrophe compared to DDR-D cells. Taken together with other recently published reports, our results add another level of evidence that the efficacy of WEE1 inhibition is influenced by the DNA repair status of a cell and may also be dependent on the tumor type and model evaluated.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • DNA Damage
  • DNA Repair / drug effects*
  • DNA Repair Enzymes / genetics
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Drug Synergism
  • Humans
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Mitomycin / pharmacology
  • Mitosis
  • Mutagens / pharmacology
  • Mutation
  • Nuclear Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Organoplatinum Compounds / pharmacology
  • Oxaliplatin
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Pyrazoles / pharmacology
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology
  • Pyrimidinones

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Mutagens
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Organoplatinum Compounds
  • Pyrazoles
  • Pyrimidines
  • Pyrimidinones
  • Oxaliplatin
  • Mitomycin
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • WEE1 protein, human
  • DNA Repair Enzymes
  • adavosertib