PPC-1 Cells Research Articles

C-end rule peptide-guided niosomes for prostate cancer cell targeting

The use of nanoformulations in drug delivery has a significant impact to increase the drug therapeutic efficacy and improve their safety in anticancer treatments. Non-ionic surfactant vesicles (NSVs), or niosomes, are a class of nanocarriers that are low-cost, physiochemical stable, and represent a promising alternative to liposomes. Tumor-penetrating C-end Rule (CendR) peptides, that target neuropilin-1 (NRP-1), a cell surface receptor commonly overexpressed on solid tumor cells, are widely used for precise delivery of diagnostic and therapeutic nanoparticles to malignant lesions. In this study, we investigated the impact of NSV functionalization with prototypic CendR peptide RPARPAR (abbr. RPAR) on NRP-1-dependent targeting of prostate cancer cells. Doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded NSVs, with or without RPAR conjugation, were prepared, physicochemical characterized, and finally tested for NRP-1 binding in human primary prostate carcinoma-1 and prostate carcinoma epithelial cell lines (PPC-1 and 22Rv1, respectively) that are NRP-1 positive, and melanoma (M21) cells that are NRP-1 negative. We demonstrated that the cellular uptake of RPAR-NSVs was NRP-1-dependent and the uptake rate of RPAR-NSVs was ca. ten times higher than un-targeted NSVs in PPC-1 cells; while no significant differences, between targeted and un-targeted nanocarriers, were obtained in M21 cell line. These data were further confirmed by using NRP-1 CendR-binding pocket-blocking (mAb7E8) antibody, which significantly inhibited the internalization of RPAR-NSVs in PPC-1 cells from ca. 80%–3%. The resulting data obtained of cytotoxic studies agreed the uptake results, thus showing a significant increase of cytotoxic effect for RPAR-NSVs@DOX in PPC-1 and 22Rv1 cells compared to NSVs@DOX. These results provide a proof of concept that the conjugation of CendR peptides on the surface of NSVs can increase the specific targeting of nanoparticles in NRP-1 positive cells, thus improving the therapeutic efficacy of resulting targeted nanocarriers for cancer treatment. Our results have important implications for the development of more efficient and selective cancer therapies and support further in vivo studies by using more complex targeting peptides, such as iRGD or other CendR peptides, that are also targeting primary recruitment receptors (i.e. integrins) and are then proteolytically activated into CendR peptides in the tumor microenvironment.

Exercise training improves radiotherapy efficiency in a murine model of prostate cancer.

Engaging in exercise while undergoing radiotherapy (RT) has been reported to be safe and achievable. The impact of exercise training (ET) on RT efficiency is however largely unknown. Our study aims to investigate the interactions between ET and RT on prostate cancer growth. Athymic mice received a subcutaneous injection of PPC-1 cells and were randomly assigned to either cancer control, cancer ET, cancer RT, or cancer RT combined with ET (CaRT-ET). Mice were sacrificed 24days post-injection. All three intervention groups had reduced tumor size, the most important decrease being observed in CaRT-ET mice. Apoptotic marker cleaved caspase-3 was not modified by ET, but enhanced with RT. Importantly, this increase was the highest when the two strategies were combined. Furthermore, NK1.1 staining and gene expression of natural killer (NK) cell receptors Klrk1 and Il2rβ were not affected by ET alone but were increased with RT, this effect being potentiated when combined with ET. Overall, our study shows that (a) ET enhances RT efficiency by potentiating NK cell infiltration, and (b) while ET alone and ET combined with RT both reduce tumor growth, the mechanisms mediating these effects are different.

Suppression of Taxanes Cytotoxicity by Citrus Flavonoid Hesperetin in PPC-1 Human Prostate Cancer Cells.

More than half of prostate cancer patients use, in addition to conventional therapies, some kind of complementary medicine, including flavonoid-rich products. However, knowledge about the co-effects of flavonoids with cytotoxic chemotherapies is still rather poor. Therefore, this study was undertaken to assess the cytotoxic activity of flavonoids and their interactions with taxanes in human advanced prostate cancer cells. Cytotoxicity of different flavonoids and their effects on the efficacy of docetaxel and cabazitaxel were studied in the human metastatic prostate cancer cell line PPC-1, using MTT colorimetric assay. Both taxanes suppressed the viability of PPC-1 cells with IC50 values in the nanomolar range. Tested flavonoids exerted cytotoxic activity only at high micromolar concentrations or revealed no remarkable effect on cell survival. Simultaneous treatment of cells with taxanes and flavonoids baicalein, chrysin, luteolin, fisetin, quercetin, genistein or daidzein did not lead to any change in chemotherapy-induced cytotoxicity. However, simultaneous exposure of cells to hesperetin and taxanes resulted in 9.8- and 13.1-fold reduction in cytotoxicity of docetaxel and cabazitaxel, respectively. Flavonoid hesperetin remarkably suppressed the cytotoxic efficacy of taxanes in prostate cancer cells. Therefore, caution is required from prostate cancer patients who take hesperetin-containing oral supplements.

Melanoma antigen A12 regulates cell cycle via tumor suppressor p21 expression.

Melanoma-associated antigen family A (MAGE-A) is a family of cancer/testis antigens that are expressed in malignant tumors but not in normal tissues other than the testes. MAGE-A12 is a MAGE-A family gene whose tumorigenic function in cancer cells remains unclear. Searches of the Oncomine and NextBio databases revealed that malignant tumors show up-regulation of MAGE-A12 mRNA relative to corresponding normal tissue. In PPC1 primary prostatic carcinoma cells and in HCT116 colorectal cancer cells (wild type and p53-depleted), MAGE-A12 gene knockdown using siRNA or shRNA diminishes cancer cell proliferation as assessed by cellular ATP levels, cell counting, and clonogenic assays. FACS analyses of annexin V-PI staining and DNA content show that MAGE-A12 knockdown causes G2/M arrest and apoptosis. In tumor xenografts of HCT116 cells, conditional knockdown of MAGE-A12 suppresses tumor growth. The depletion of MAGE-A12 leads to the accumulation of tumor suppressor p21 in PPC1, HCT116, and p53-depleted HCT116 cells. Conversely, CDKN1A knockdown partially rescues the viability of PPC1 cells transfected with siRNA targeting MAGE-A12, while p21 overexpression leads to proliferation arrest in PPC-1 cells. Furthermore, exogenous MAGE-A12 expression promotes the ubiquitination of p21. Our findings reveal that MAGE-A12 plays crucial roles in p21 stability and tumor growth, suggesting that MAGE-A12 could provide a novel target for cancer treatment.

Combination of axitinib and dasatinib for anti-cancer activities in two prostate cancer cell lines

<p class="Abstract">Prostate cancer is major cause of cancer related deaths worldwide in men. There are new treatment methods and drugs are being developed with promising results in two of the prostate cancer cell lines (PPC-1 and TSU-Pr1). These two cells were treated with 20 uM of axitinib combined with dasatinib for 6-72 hours. The cell viability assessed by the cytotoxicity assay. Various regulatory genes such as c-KIT, cell cycle and apoptosis and angiogenic factors were also studied. The enzyme activity of apoptosis efector caspase-3 was colorimetrically determined. Axitinib and dasatinib combination lowered the survival rate of PPC-1 cells but enhanced the survival rate of TSU-Pr1 cells. The protein expression levels in apoptosis and angiogenesis factors were also found to be in contrast between the two cell lines. PPC-1 and TSU-Pr1 cells displayed a different response to axitinib with dasatinib, which explains different expression levels of regulators of cell-cycle, apoptosis and angiogenesis.</p><p> </p>

PCTAIRE1-knockdown sensitizes cancer cells to TNF family cytokines.

While PCTAIRE1/PCTK1/Cdk16 is overexpressed in malignant cells and is crucial in tumorigenesis, its function in apoptosis remains unclear. Here we investigated the role of PCTAIRE1 in apoptosis, especially in the extrinsic cell death pathway. Gene-knockdown of PCTAIRE1 sensitized prostate cancer PPC1 and Du145 cells, and breast cancer MDA-MB-468 cells to TNF-family cytokines, including TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). Meanwhile, PCTAIRE1-knockdown did not sensitize non-malignant cells, including diploid fibroblasts IMR-90 and the immortalized prostate epithelial cell line 267B1. PCTAIRE1-knockdown did not up-regulate death receptor expression on the cell surface or affect caspase-8, FADD and FLIP expression levels. PCTAIRE1-knockdown did promote caspase-8 cleavage and RIPK1 degradation, while RIPK1 mRNA knockdown sensitized PPC1 cells to TNF-family cytokines. Furthermore, the kinase inhibitor SNS-032, which inhibits PCTAIRE1 kinase activity, sensitized PPC1 cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Together these results suggest that PCTAIRE1 contributes to the resistance of cancer cell lines to apoptosis induced by TNF-family cytokines, which implies that PCTAIRE1 inhibitors could have synergistic effects with TNF-family cytokines for cytodestruction of cancer cells.

The Effect of Arvanil on Prostate Cancer Cells Studied by Whole Cell High Resolution Magic Angle Spinning NMR

The transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1) has recently gained attention as a potential target for the development of novel antineoplastic agents. It has been reported that the TRPV1 agonist arvanil has effective antiproliferative effects in studies using human breast cancer cells lines. In an extension of this research we have evaluated the IC50 values of arvanil in the prostate cancer cell lines PPC-1 (primary) and TSU (metastatic). Both TSU and PPC-1 cell lines are sensitive to treatment with arvanil. This result prompted our investigations into the changes in “cell metabolism” associated with prostate cancer progression and the effect of arvanil treatment. To this end, we have employed High Resolution Magic-Angle Spinning (HR-MAS) NMR spectroscopy on whole cells to determine the differences in the relative amount of cell metabolites and changes in small molecule metabolism following treatment of the TSU and PPC-1 cells with arvanil. We evaluated and confirmed that the existing “biomarkers” such as elevated tCho and decreased citrate in prostate cancer are well correlated with prostate cancer progression. In addition, metastatic TSU cells also contain elevated level of lactate and glutamine, and contain much less creatine. Upon treatment with arvanil, a number of biomolecules were found to undergo changes in intracellular levels during apoptosis. These data will potentially permit the further characterization of signaling pathways associated with TRPV1 activation as well as identifying new targets for the development of novel antineoplastic agents.

Evaluation of Doxorubicin-Loaded 3-Helix Micelles as Nanocarriers

Designing stable drug nanocarriers, 10-30 nm in size, would have significant impact on their transport in circulation, tumor penetration, and therapeutic efficacy. In the present study, biological properties of 3-helix micelles loaded with 8 wt % doxorubicin (DOX), ~15 nm in size, were characterized to validate their potential as a nanocarrier platform. DOX-loaded micelles exhibited high stability in terms of size and drug retention in concentrated protein environments similar to conditions after intravenous injections. DOX-loaded micelles were cytotoxic to PPC-1 and 4T1 cancer cells at levels comparable to free DOX. 3-Helix micelles can be disassembled by proteolytic degradation of peptide shell to enable drug release and clearance to minimize long-term accumulation. Local administration to normal rat striatum by convection enhanced delivery (CED) showed greater extent of drug distribution and reduced toxicity relative to free drug. Intravenous administration of DOX-loaded 3-helix micelles demonstrated improved tumor half-life and reduced toxicity to healthy tissues in comparison to free DOX. In vivo delivery of DOX-loaded 3-helix micelles through two different routes clearly indicates the potential of 3-helix micelles as safe and effective nanocarriers for cancer therapeutics.

Novel Phosphorylation and Ubiquitination Sites Regulate Reactive Oxygen Species-dependent Degradation of Anti-apoptotic c-FLIP Protein

The cytosolic protein c-FLIP (cellular Fas-associated death domain-like interleukin 1β-converting enzyme inhibitory protein) is an inhibitor of death receptor-mediated apoptosis that is up-regulated in a variety of cancers, contributing to apoptosis resistance. Several compounds found to restore sensitivity of cancer cells to TRAIL, a TNF family death ligand with promising therapeutic potential, act by targeting c-FLIP ubiquitination and degradation by the proteasome. The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been implicated in c-FLIP protein degradation. However, the mechanism by which ROS post-transcriptionally regulate c-FLIP protein levels is not well understood. We show here that treatment of prostate cancer PPC-1 cells with the superoxide generators menadione, paraquat, or buthionine sulfoximine down-regulates c-FLIP long (c-FLIP(L)) protein levels, which is prevented by the proteasome inhibitor MG132. Furthermore, pretreatment of PPC-1 cells with a ROS scavenger prevented ubiquitination and loss of c-FLIP(L) protein induced by menadione or paraquat. We identified lysine 167 as a novel ubiquitination site of c-FLIP(L) important for ROS-dependent degradation. We also identified threonine 166 as a novel phosphorylation site and demonstrate that Thr-166 phosphorylation is required for ROS-induced Lys-167 ubiquitination. The mutation of either Thr-166 or Lys-167 was sufficient to stabilize c-FLIP protein levels in PPC-1, HEK293T, and HeLa cancer cells treated with menadione or paraquat. Accordingly, expression of c-FLIP T166A or K167R mutants protected cells from ROS-mediated sensitization to TRAIL-induced cell death. Our findings reveal novel ROS-dependent post-translational modifications of the c-FLIP protein that regulate its stability, thus impacting sensitivity of cancer cells to TRAIL.

Abstract 4609: Novel phosphorylation and ubiquitination sites regulate ROS-dependent degradation of c-FLIP and sensitization of cancer cells to TRAIL.

Abstract The cytosolic protein c-FLIP (cellular Fas-associated death domain-like interleukin 1β-converting enzyme inhibitory protein) is an inhibitor of death receptor-mediated apoptosis that is up-regulated in a variety of cancers, contributing to apoptosis resistance. Several compounds found to restore sensitivity of cancer cells to TRAIL, a TNF family death ligand with promising therapeutic potential, act by targeting c-FLIP ubiquitination and degradation by the proteasome. The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been implicated in c-FLIP protein degradation. However, the mechanism by which ROS post-transcriptionally regulate c-FLIP protein levels is not well understood. We show here that treatment of prostate cancer PPC-1 cells with the superoxide generators menadione or paraquat down-regulates c-FLIP long (c-FLIPL) protein levels, which is prevented by the proteasome inhibitor MG132. Furthermore, pretreatment of PPC-1 cells with a ROS scavenger prevented ubiquitination and loss of c-FLIPL protein induced by menadione or paraquat. We identified lysine 167 as a novel ubiquitination site of c-FLIPL important for ROS-dependent degradation. We also identified threonine 166 as a novel phosphorylation site and demonstrate that T166 phosphorylation is required for ROS-induced K167 ubiquitination. The mutation of either T166 or K167 was sufficient to stabilize c-FLIP protein levels in PPC-1, HEK293T, and HeLa cancer cells treated with menadione or paraquat. Accordingly, expression of c-FLIP T166A or K167R mutants protected cells from ROS-mediated sensitization to TRAIL-induced cell death. Our findings reveal novel ROS-dependent post-translational modifications of c-FLIP that regulate c-FLIP protein degradation and subsequent sensitization of cancer cells to TRAIL. Citation Format: Rachel P. Wilkie-Grantham, Shu-Ichi Matsuzawa, John C. Reed. Novel phosphorylation and ubiquitination sites regulate ROS-dependent degradation of c-FLIP and sensitization of cancer cells to TRAIL. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4609. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-4609

Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 Inhibition Sensitizes Pancreatic Cancer Cells to TRAIL-Induced Apoptosis

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) induces apoptosis in a variety of cancer cell lines with little or no effect on normal cells. However, its effect is limited as some cancers including pancreatic cancer show de novo resistance to TRAIL induced apoptosis. In this study we report that GSK-3 inhibition using the pharmacologic agent AR-18, enhanced TRAIL sensitivity in a range of pancreatic and prostate cancer cell lines. This sensitization was found to be caspase-dependent, and both pharmacological and genetic knock-down of GSK-3 isoforms resulted in apoptotic features as shown by cleavage of PARP and caspase-3. Elevated levels of reactive oxygen intermediates and disturbance of mitochondrial membrane potential point to a mitochondrial amplification loop for TRAIL-induced apoptosis after GSK-3 inhibition. Consistent with this, overexpression of anti-apoptotic mitochondrial targets such as Bcl-XL, Mcl-1, and Bcl-2 rescued PANC-1 and PPC-1 cells from TRAIL sensitization. However, overexpression of the caspase-8 inhibitor CrmA also inhibited the sensitizing effects of GSK-3 inhibitor, suggesting an additional role for GSK-3 that inhibits death receptor signaling. Acute treatment of mice bearing PANC-1 xenografts with a combination of AR-18 and TRAIL also resulted in a significant increase in apoptosis, as measured by caspase-3 cleavage. Sensitization to TRAIL occurred despite an increase in β-catenin due to GSK-3 inhibition, suggesting that the approach might be effective even in cancers with dysregulated β-catenin. These results suggest that GSK-3 inhibitors might be effectively combined with TRAIL for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Abstract 4664: Co-treatment of cancer cells with DNA damaging drugs and quercetin suppresses cell growth independent of p21 and Bax induction

Abstract Quercetin, one of the most abundant polyphenols, has been evaluated for its potential cancer preventive functions and for its anticancer activity in vitro and in vivo. Its interactions with chemotherapeutics, however, have not been established. Some reports indicate enhancement of drug activity by quercetin but others suggest precautions in co-administering antioxidants such as quercetin and chemotherapeutic drugs. Therefore, further investigations were needed to determine the conditions under which the co-treatment of cancer cells with drugs and quercetin could be clinically beneficial. This study was done to examine how quercetin modulates responses to the chemotherapeutic drugs, 5FU, camptothecin, and VP16, in colon and prostate cancer cells, and to determine the biochemical processes involved in the interactions. Survival of HCT116 colorectal cancer cells (p53 wild-type & null) was determined by assay of clonogenicity of cells exposed to selected concentrations of 5-FU, camptothecin, or VP16 in the presence or absence of quercetin. For cell cycle and biochemical experiments, cells were exposed for 24 hours to 10 µM 5FU, 1 µM camptothecin, or 10 µM VP-16 with or without 50 µM quercetin. The effects of the drugs on the cell cycle were measured by flow cytometry. The induction of p53 and its transcriptional targets, p21 and Bax, as well as the levels of cell cycle regulators, cyclin B1 and survivin, were determined by immunoblotting. Additionally, cell migration assays were used to evaluate the effect of combination treatments on the motility of RKO colorectal and PPC1 prostate cancer cells. Quercetin synergistically inhibited the clonogenicity of the wild-type HCT116 cells, but also inhibited effects on the cell cycle of all the drugs tested. In contrast, for p53-null cells, the combination of low concentrations of 5-FU with up to 6 µM quercetin promoted clonogenic survival. Exposure of wild-type cells to 50 µM quercetin reduced drug-induced up-regulation of p53, p21, and Bax. Combinations of quercetin and the drugs also reduced the levels of cyclin B1 and survivin. RKO and PPC1 cells exposed to the drugs had reduced migratory capacity. Although quercetin alone reduced their migratory capacity, combination treatments did not further reduce cell migration. In summary, quercetin in combination with 5-FU reduced the survival of p53-proficient HCT116 colorectal cancer cells independently of p21 and Bax, but combination of this flavonoid with low concentrations of 5-FU provided a survival advantage for p53-null cells. Further investigations are needed to determine the mechanisms and circumstances under which the combinations of bioactive dietary compounds and chemotherapeutic drugs are beneficial. Supported by grants from NCI/NIH (2U54-CA118948-06, and SC2CA138178). Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4664. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4664

Association of core‐binding factor β with the malignant phenotype of prostate and ovarian cancer cells

Core binding factor (CBF) is a transcription factor complex that plays roles in development, stem-cell homeostasis, and human disease. CBF is a heterodimer composed of one of three DNA-binding RUNX proteins plus the non-DNA-binding protein, CBFβ. Recent studies have showed that the RUNX factors exhibit complex expression patterns in prostate, breast, and ovarian cancers, and CBF has been implicated in the control of cancer-related genes. However, the biologic roles of CBF in solid tumors have not been fully elucidated. To test whether CBF is required for the malignant phenotype of various epithelial cancers, we used lentiviral delivery of CBFβ-specific shRNA to significantly decrease CBFβ expression in two prostate cancer cell lines (PPC1 and PC-3) and the SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cell line. We found that knockdown of CBFβ significantly inhibited anchorage independent growth of each cell line. Further, CBFβ knockdown in PPC1 cells suppressed xenograft tumor growth compared to controls. Mice injected with SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cells knocked-down for CBFβ exhibited a survival time similar to control mice. However, human cells recovered from the ascites fluid of these mice showed CBFβ expression levels similar to those from mice injected with control SKOV-3 cells, suggesting that CBFβ knockdown is incompatible with tumor cell growth. Gene expression profiling of CBFβ knockdown cells revealed significant changes in expression in genes involved in various developmental and cell signaling pathways. These data collectively suggest that CBFβ is required for malignancy in some human cancers.

Cathepsin E enhances anticancer activity of doxorubicin on human prostate cancer cells showing resistance to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis

We previously described that cathepsin E specifically induces growth arrest and apoptosis in several human prostate cancer cell lines in vitro by catalyzing the proteolytic release of soluble tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) from the tumor cell surface. It also prevents tumor growth and metastasis in vivo through multiple mechanisms, including induction of apoptosis, angiogenesis inhibition and enhanced immune responses. Using the prostate cancer cell line PPC-1, which is relatively resistant to cell death by doxorubicin (40-50% cytotoxicity), we first report that a combination treatment with cathepsin E can overcome resistance of the cells to this agent. In vitro studies showed that combined treatment of PPC-1 cells with the two agents synergistically induces viability loss, mainly owing to down-regulation of a short form of the FLICE inhibitory protein FLIP. The enhanced antitumor activity was corroborated by in vivo studies with athymic mice bearing PPC-1 xenografts. Intratumoral application of cathepsin E in doxorubicin-treated mice results in tumor cell apoptosis and tumor regression in xenografts by enhanced TRAIL-induced apoptosis through doxorubicin-induced c-FLIP down-regulation and by a decrease in tumor cell proliferation. These results indicate that combination of cathepsin E and doxorubicin is sufficient to overcome resistance to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis in chemoresistant prostate cancer PPC-1 cells, thus indicating therapeutic potential for clinical use.

Abstract 5526: Development of dithiocarbamate/metal complexes in Pluronic® micelles for the treatment of malignancies

Abstract Dithiocarbamate/metal complexes are potently cytotoxic towards malignant cells of different tissues of origin. We synthesized DETC/Cu, a chelate of diethylthiocarbamate (DETC) and copper (Cu2+). We formulated DETC/Cu in P123 Pluronic® micelles and studied its in vitro anti-cancer activity against the following human cancer cell lines: HL-60 (acute myeloid leukemia), PPC-1 (prostate cancer), HEP-3B (hepatocellular carcinoma) and DLD-1 (colon cancer). Controls were treated with empty P123 Pluronic® micelles. Cells were cultured with varying concentrations of the drug for 24 hrs, 48 hrs and 72 hrs upon which cell growth was measured using an MTS cell proliferation assay. DETC/Cu inhibited growth in vitro at submicromolar concentrations. The 50% growth inhibitory concentration (IC50) was 0.015 μM, 0.023 μM, 0.10 μM and 0.19 μM for HL-60, PPC-1, HEP-3B and DLD-1 cells, respectively. We also performed caspase activity assays at various time points and concentrations using the DETC/Cu. At concentrations of 0.25 μM, 0.5 μM and 1 μM DETC/Cu increased caspase 3 activity after three hours by 162, 265 and 318 percent over baseline, respectively. At the same concentrations and time point, DETC/Cu increased caspase 8 activation by 97, 97 and 82 percent over baseline, respectively. At the same concentrations and time point, DETC/Cu increased caspase 9 activity by 128,164, and 178 percent over baseline, respectively. These results demonstrate that DETC/Cu activates both the intrinsic and the extrinsic apoptosis pathways. In another experiment, the effect of DETC/Cu chelates on leukemia cell growth in vivo was studied. NOD/SCID IL2Rγnull mice were implanted bilaterally in the flanks with HL-60 cells. When tumors became palpable, treatment was started with DETC/Cu formulated in P123 Pluronic® micelles and administered intravenously every other day at a dose of 2 μmol/kg. There were 4 mice in each treatment group (Pluronic® P123 micelle control and DETC/Cu in P123 micelles). The experiment was terminated at day 15. At that point 3 out of 4 control animals had died and the one remaining alive had tumor volumes that had exceeded 10% of initial body weight. Tumor volumes were decreased by 22 and 33% in DETC/Cu-treated animals as opposed to vehicle controls on days 12 and 15, respectively. At the time of termination of the experiment, none of the animals treated with DETC/Cu had died. These results demonstrate that dithiocarbamate/metal complexes hold great promise for medicinal development as anti-cancer agents. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5526.

Acid Ceramidase Upregulation in Prostate Cancer Cells Confers Resistance to Radiation: AC Inhibition, a Potential Radiosensitizer

Radiation resistance in a subset of prostate tumors remains a challenge to prostate cancer radiotherapy. The current study on the effects of radiation on prostate cancer cells reveals that radiation programs an unpredicted resistance mechanism by upregulating acid ceramidase (AC). Irradiated cells demonstrated limited changes of ceramide levels while elevating levels of sphingosine and sphingosine-1-phosphate. By genetically downregulating AC with small interfering RNA (siRNA), we observed radiosensitization of cells using clonogenic and cytotoxicity assays. Conversely, AC overexpression further decreased sensitivity to radiation. We also observed that radiation-induced AC upregulation was sufficient to create cross-resistance to chemotherapy as demonstrated by decreased sensitivity to Taxol and C(6) ceramide compared to controls. Lower levels of caspase 3/7 activity were detected in cells pretreated with radiation, also indicating increased resistance. Finally, utilization of the small molecule AC inhibitor, LCL385, sensitized PPC-1 cells to radiation and significantly decreased tumor xenograft growth. These data suggest a new mechanism of cancer cell resistance to radiation, through upregulation of AC that is, in part, mediated by application of the therapy itself. An improved understanding of radiotherapy and the application of combination therapy achieved in this study offer new opportunities for the modulation of radiation effects in the treatment of cancer.

Preclinical anticancer activity of the specific endothelin A receptor antagonist ZD4054

Endothelins are a family of small peptides (ET-1, ET-2, and ET-3) that mediate various physiological processes of mitogenesis, repair, and tissue differentiation by binding to endothelin A (ETA) and endothelin B (ETB) cell surface receptors. Activation of the ETA receptor by ET-1 has emerged as an important factor promoting tumor cell proliferation, survival, angiogenesis, migration, invasion, and metastasis in several tumor types including prostate, ovary, colon, cervix, breast, and lung. As activation of the ETB receptor has an opposing effect, inducing cell death by apoptosis, a rationale exists for specific antagonism of the ETA receptor as a treatment strategy for cancer. ZD4054 is a specific ETA receptor antagonist currently being evaluated in hormone-resistant prostate cancer in phase III clinical trials. In vitro, ZD4054 reversed ET-1-mediated inhibition of apoptosis in serum-deprived rat A10 and human VLTR-16 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. ZD4054 inhibited ET-1-mediated survival signaling pathways and decreased proliferation in ovarian OVCA 433 and HEY cells and in prostate PPC-1 and LAPC-4 cells. In A673 rhabdomyosarcoma cells, ET-1-induced phosphorylation of FAK, FAK, and paxillin was reversed with ZD4054, inhibiting the invasive phenotype mediated by these adhesion factors. In vivo, ZD4054 led to a significant reduction in tumor growth in animals bearing ovarian tumor xenografts, and significantly inhibited tumor angiogenesis. Pretreatment with ZD4054 also significantly delayed the onset of metastatic events after intracardiac injection of bladder TSU-Pr1-B1 cells in mice. These preclinical data show the potential anticancer effects of the specific blockade of the ETA receptor with ZD4054, supporting a program of clinical investigation.

1013. Radiation Desensitizes PPC1 Cells to Chemotherapy through Up-Regulation of Acid Ceramidase: AC Inhibition by shRNA/siRNA, a New Approach for Improving Cancer Therapy

1013. Radiation Desensitizes PPC1 Cells to Chemotherapy through Up-Regulation of Acid Ceramidase: AC Inhibition by shRNA/siRNA, a New Approach for Improving Cancer Therapy

Critical Role for Fas-Associated Death Domain-Like Interleukin-1-Converting Enzyme-Like Inhibitory Protein in Anoikis Resistance and Distant Tumor Formation

Normal epithelial cells undergo anoikis, or apoptosis on loss of anchorage to the extracellular matrix, by initiating the death receptor pathway of caspase activation. However, malignant epithelial cells with metastatic potential resist anoikis and can survive in an anchorage-independent fashion. We hypothesized that c-Fas-associated death domain-like interleukin-1-converting enzyme-like inhibitory protein (FLIP), an endogenous inhibitor of death receptor signaling, may suppress anoikis. We assessed viability and apoptosis of PPC-1 prostate cancer cells cultured in adherent and suspension conditions using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium inner salt and Annexin V staining assays. Expression of the death receptor Fas and activation of caspase 8 were measured using flow cytometry. Expression of Fas ligand was measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. FLIP protein expression was measured by immunoblotting. Small-molecule inhibitors of FLIP (including the death receptor sensitizer 5809354) and small-interfering (si) RNA directed against FLIP were used to assess the effects of FLIP inhibition on anoikis of prostate cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. All statistical tests were two-sided. PPC-1 cells cultured in suspension resisted anoikis, despite increased expression of Fas (0 versus 8 hours, mean relative percent expression = 100% versus 135%, difference = 35%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 10% to 61%; P = .02) and Fas L (0 versus 24 hours, mean relative percent expression = 100% versus 208%, difference = 108%, 95% CI = 18% to 197%; P = .02). Knockdown of FLIP expression by siRNA or treatment with 5809354 sensitized prostate cancer cells to anoikis (control siRNA versus FLIP siRNA at 10 nM, mean relative percent viability = 95% versus 51%, difference = 44%, 95% CI = 34% to 54%; P<.001; control versus 5809354 at 20 microM, mean relative percent viability = 96% versus 52%, difference = 44%, 95% CI = 13% to 75%; P = .015). Inhibition of FLIP expression specifically activated caspase 8 in PPC-1 cells grown in suspension but not adherent conditions and decreased the metastatic potential of circulating PPC-1 cells in vivo. FLIP may be a suppressor of anoikis and therefore a possible target for antimetastatic therapeutic strategies.

Endothelin Receptor A Blockade Enhances Taxane Effects in Prostate Cancer

Endothelin (ET) 1 is important in the growth of prostate cancer cells through the activation of the endothelin A (ETA) receptor. ET receptor blockade is a new therapeutic target in treating advanced prostate cancer. This study investigates the impact of the combination of the ETA antagonist atrasentan (ABT-627) and taxane chemotherapy on prostate cancer cell survival in vitro and on the delay of prostate cancer in a xenograft mouse model. In vitro, PPC-1 cells transfected with an ETA-overexpressing vector were treated with ABT-627, paclitaxel/docetaxel, or both. Clonogenic viability and cell death assays were used to determine cell survival and apoptosis, respectively. ABT-627 and docetaxel combination treatment was used in vivo to treat mice with established ETA-overexpressing PPC-1 xenograft tumors, and tumor growth rates were assessed. Cell proliferation and vascularity were determined with Ki-67 and CD31 staining, respectively. Cells treated with combination therapy had significantly fewer viable cells and more programmed cell death than cells given monotherapy. Xenograft tumor growth rates were significantly lower in mice treated with combination therapy than in animals given a single agent. Ki-67 immunostaining demonstrated significantly fewer proliferative cells following combination therapy than following monotherapy. This study demonstrates ABT-627 to have additive antitumor effects when used in combination with taxane drugs both in vitro and in vivo.