Anti-Tumor Effects of Wee1 Kinase Inhibitor with Radiotherapy in Human Cervical Cancer

Sci Rep. 2019 Oct 28;9(1):15394. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-51959-3.

Abstract

Although the concurrent use of a chemotherapeutic agent and radiotherapy improves survival in patients with locally advanced or recurrent cervical cancer, severe side effects related to chemotherapy are frequent and may result in a low quality of life for the patients. In this study, we investigated the effects of a combination of Wee1 inhibitor (AZD1775) and irradiation in cervical cancer. In vitro effects of AZD1775 with irradiation in human cervical cancer cells were assessed by clonogenic survival and apoptosis assays. The effects on DNA damage response signaling and the cell cycle were also explored. Tumor growth delay was evaluated to investigate the in vivo effects of AZD1775 with irradiation in cervical cancer mouse models, including xenografts and patient-derived xenografts (PDXs). The co-treatment of AZD1775 and irradiation significantly decreased clonogenic survival and increased apoptosis in cervical cancer cells. These effects were associated with G2 checkpoint abrogation which resulted in persistent DNA damage. Both in the xenografts and the PDXs, the co-treatment significantly decreased tumor growth compared tothe irradiation alone (p < 0.05). These results demonstrate that the Wee1 inhibitor (AZD1775) can be considered as a potential alternative as a radiosensitizer in cervical cancer instead of a chemotherapeutic agent such as cisplatin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Chemoradiotherapy / methods*
  • DNA Damage
  • Female
  • G2 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Pyrazoles / pharmacology
  • Pyrazoles / therapeutic use*
  • Pyrimidinones / pharmacology
  • Pyrimidinones / therapeutic use*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / therapy*
  • X-Ray Therapy

Substances

  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pyrazoles
  • Pyrimidinones
  • adavosertib