Chromatin softening and nuclear envelope breaching potentiates killing of chemoresistant cancer cells

Abstract

The nuclei of metastatic cancer cells are more pliable because of reduced lamin A/C expression and decreased chromatin condensation, facilitating effective invasion through tissue interstices. Taking advantage of the fact that nuclei are already softer in chemoresistant metastatic ovarian cancer cells, we strategize to further compromising the nucleus integrity by treating cancer cells with low-dose drug paclitaxel (PTX) and fostamatinib. PTX is a commonly used chemotherapeutic drug for many cancer types, and fostamatinib is a recently approved adjuvant by FDA to treat ovarian cancer.