Enhancement by Nano-Diamino-Tetrac of Antiproliferative Action of Gefitinib on Colorectal Cancer Cells: Mediation by EGFR Sialylation and PI3K Activation

Horm Cancer. 2018 Dec;9(6):420-432. doi: 10.1007/s12672-018-0341-x. Epub 2018 Sep 5.

Abstract

Drug resistance complicates the clinical use of gefitinib. Tetraiodothyroacetic acid (tetrac) and nano-diamino-tetrac (NDAT) have been shown in vitro and in xenografts to have antiproliferative/angiogenic properties and to potentiate antiproliferative activity of other anticancer agents. In the current study, we investigated the effects of NDAT on the anticancer activities of gefitinib in human colorectal cancer cells. β-Galactoside α-2,6-sialyltransferase 1 (ST6Gal1) catalyzes EGFR sialylation that is associated with gefitinib resistance in colorectal cancers, and this was also investigated. Gefitinib inhibited cell proliferation of HT-29 cells (K-ras wild-type), and NDAT significantly enhanced the antiproliferative action of gefitinib. Gefitinib inhibited cell proliferation of HCT116 cells (K-ras mutant) only in high concentration, and this was further enhanced by NDAT. NDAT enhancedd gefitinib-induced antiproliferation in gefitinib-resistant colorectal cancer cells by inhibiting ST6Gal1 activity and PI3K activation. Furthermore, NDAT enhanced gefitinib-induced anticancer activity additively in colorectal cancer HCT116 cell xenograft-bearing nude mice. Results suggest that NDAT may have an application with gefitinib as combination colorectal cancer therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • ErbB Receptors / drug effects
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism
  • Gefitinib / pharmacology*
  • HCT116 Cells
  • HT29 Cells
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / drug effects
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Polyglactin 910 / pharmacology*
  • Thyroxine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Thyroxine / pharmacology
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • nano-diamino-tetrac
  • Polyglactin 910
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • EGFR protein, human
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Thyroxine
  • Gefitinib