Abstract 5482: Constitutive overexpression of nrf2 in esophageal adenocarcinoma protects cancer cells from bile salts-induced DNA damage and favors cancer cell survival

Abstract

Abstract Background: Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is the major type of malignant cancer of esophagus in the USA. The incidence rate has increased 4-10% per year among men since 1976 in the USA, more rapidly than for any other type of cancer. EAC is known to originate from premalignant Barrett’s esophagus (BE) through BE-dysplasia-EAC process. Normal cells have intact anti-oxidative mechanisms, among which NFE2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) plays a pivotal role in regulating cellular response to various stimuli. Cancer cells have high levels of reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress due to activation of oncogenes, inflammatory microenvironment, and dysfunction of anti-oxidative mechanisms. However, the role of NRF2 in Barrett’s related esophageal carcinogenesis is barely known. Methods and Results: We have found that Nrf2 protein expression is significantly upregulated in EAC cell lines as compared to BE cell lines (CPA, BAR10T) and normal esophageal squamous cell lines. We detected a similar overexpression of NRF2 in primary EAC tissue samples. Using luciferase reporter assay, we demonstrated significant induction of NRF2 transcription activity in EAC cells in response to exposure to acidic bile acids, as compared to controls (P<.01). We detected significant increase in the expression of Heme Oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and Glutathione Reductase (GR) in these cells (P<.01). Knockdown of NRF2 by siRNA or crisp/cas9, significantly increased cellular ROS level, oxidative DNA damage (8-oxoguanine), and double strand DNA breaks (p-H2AX). Knockdown of NRF2 sensitized cells to apoptosis following exposure to bile acids and CDDP. Concordant with these results, the use of NRF2 inhibitor, Brusatol, sensitized EAC cells to CDDP treatment with a significant increase in cell death, as compared to single agent treatment (P<.01). Conclusion: These results indicate that constitutive overexpression of NRF2 in EAC cells protects cancer cells from high level of ROS and promotes cancer cell survival. Inhibition of NRF2 through its specific inhibitor may have therapeutic value in EAC. Citation Format: Dunfa Peng, Tianling Hu, Shoumin Zhu, Wael El-Rifai. Constitutive overexpression of nrf2 in esophageal adenocarcinoma protects cancer cells from bile salts-induced DNA damage and favors cancer cell survival [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5482. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-5482