The synergistic effects of low dose fluorouracil and TRAIL on TRAIL-resistant human gastric adenocarcinoma AGS cells

Core Fucosylation Mediated by the FucT-8 Enzyme Affects TRAIL-Induced Apoptosis and Sensitivity to Chemotherapy in Human SW480 and SW620 Colorectal Cancer Cells

Epithelial cells can undergo apoptosis by manipulating the balance between pro-survival and apoptotic signals. In this work, we show that TRAIL-induced apoptosis can be differentially regulated by the expression of α(1,6)fucosyltransferase (FucT-8), the only enzyme in mammals that transfers the α(1,6)fucose residue to the pentasaccharide core of complex N-glycans. Specifically, in the cellular model of colorectal cancer (CRC) progression formed using the human syngeneic lines SW480 and SW620, knockdown of the FucT-8-encoding FUT8 gene significantly enhanced TRAIL-induced apoptosis in SW480 cells. However, FUT8 repression did not affect SW620 cells, which suggests that core fucosylation differentiates TRAIL-sensitive premetastatic SW480 cells from TRAIL-resistant metastatic SW620 cells. In this regard, we provide evidence that phosphorylation of ERK1/2 kinases can dynamically regulate TRAIL-dependent apoptosis and that core fucosylation can control the ERK/MAPK pro-survival pathway in which SW480 and SW620 cells participate. Moreover, the depletion of core fucosylation sensitises primary tumour SW480 cells to the combination of TRAIL and low doses of 5-FU, oxaliplatin, irinotecan, or mitomycin C. In contrast, a combination of TRAIL and oxaliplatin, irinotecan, or bevacizumab reinforces resistance of FUT8-knockdown metastatic SW620 cells to apoptosis. Consequently, FucT-8 could be a plausible target for increasing apoptosis and drug response in early CRC.

Decitabine enhances the tumoricidal potential of TRAIL via the epigenetic regulation of death receptor 4 in gastric cancer

Background

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methyltransferase inhibitors, such as decitabine, have made great advances in cancer therapy as combinational drugs. Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) has an obvious anti-tumor effect; however, some gastric cancer (GC) cells are resistant to TRAIL-induced cell death. This study sought to explore the synergistic anti-tumor effect of TRAIL and decitabine, and the potential synergetic mechanism.

Methods

The cell growth inhibition effect was monitored by the IncuCyte ZOOM Live-Cell Analysis System, and cell viability was determined by Cell Counting Kit-8 assays. Apoptosis was detected by Annexin V/Propidium Iodide double staining. Death receptor 4 (DR4) was knocked down by ribonucleic acid (RNA) interference, and the effect of DR4 deletion on TRAIL sensitivity was analyzed. Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was applied to determine the methylation status of DR4. The messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression levels were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot. The expression of the DRs on the cell membrane surfaces was analyzed by flow cytometry.

Results

The combined use of decitabine and TRAIL synergistically inhibited cell growth in 2 TRAIL-resistant cell lines. Further, decitabine augmented TRAIL-induced apoptosis in a caspase-dependent manner. The co-application of decitabine and TRAIL facilitated the activation of caspase-7, -8, -9, and poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP). Notably, decitabine increased the expression of DR4 at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. DR4 expression on the cell membrane surfaces was also upregulated after decitabine exposure. The depletion of DR4 by specific inhibitors attenuated TRAIL-induced apoptosis and weakened the synergistic effects of decitabine and TRAIL. In addition, DR4 gene presented methylation status in SNU-1 cells. The low mRNA and protein expression of DR4 were also detected in SNU-1 cells.

Conclusions

Decitabine enhances the effect of TRAIL by inhibiting the growth and inducing the apoptosis of GC cells. This is achieved by the epigenetic modification of decitabine, which upregulates DR4. Decitabine may act as a sensitizing agent of TRAIL. The combined use of decitabine and TRAIL may provide a novel idea for GC treatment.

Chemo-Sensitization of CD133+ Cancer Stem Cell Enhances the Effect of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Expressing TRAIL in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cell Lines

Simple Summary

The anti-tumor properties of mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs) expressing TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) or MSC-TRAIL have been well documented by several reports. However, some tumors are resistant to TRAIL due to the existence of cancer stem cells (CSCs). Chemo-sensitization of tumors and their CSCs has been reported to enhance TRAIL-mediated inhibition. In this study, we examined the effect of pre-treatment using first-line chemotherapies on MSC-TRAIL-induced inhibition in non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs)–derived CSCs. We found that these chemotherapies were able to induce a chemo-sensitization effect to the CSC, thus improving the MSC-TRAIL-induced inhibition. We also noticed that the effect of chemo-sensitization was cell type specific and selecting chemotherapies for the right NSCLC subtypes might help in inducing a more meaningful combinatory effect. As such, this study has proven that chemo-sensitization of the CSCs was able to enhance the MSC-TRAIL-induced inhibition in NSCLC cell lines.

Abstract

Pre-clinical studies have demonstrated the efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) expressing tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) or MSC-TRAIL against several tumors. However, due to the existence of cancer stem cells (CSCs), some tumors, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), exhibit TRAIL resistance. This study was designed to evaluate the capacity of using first-line chemotherapies including cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and vinorelbine to act as a chemo-sensitizer on CD133+ (prominin-1 positive) CSCs derived from NSCLC cell lines (A549, H460 and H2170) for the purpose of MSC-TRAIL-induced inhibition. We showed that MSC-TRAIL was resistant to all three chemotherapies compared to the NSCLC cell lines, suggesting that the chemotherapies had little effect on MSC-TRAIL viability. Pre-treatment using either cisplatin or 5-FU, but not with vinorelbine, was able to increase the efficacy of MSC-TRAIL to kill the TRAIL-resistant A549-derived CSCs. The study also demonstrated that both 5-FU and vinorelbine were an effective chemo-sensitizer, used to increase the anti-tumor effect of MSC-TRAIL against H460- and H2170-derived CSCs. Furthermore, pre-treatment using cisplatin was noted to enhance the effect of MSC-TRAIL in H460-derived CSCs; however, this effect was not detected in the H2170-derived CSCs. These findings suggest that a pre-treatment using certain chemotherapies in NSCLC could enhance the anti-tumor effect of MSC-TRAIL to target the CSCs, and therefore the combination of chemotherapies and MSC-TRAIL may serve as a novel approach for the treatment of NSCLC.

Co-targeting p53-R249S and CDK4 synergistically suppresses survival of hepatocellular carcinoma cells

p53-R249S (p53-RS) is frequently detected in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that is highly associated with hepatitis B infection and aflatoxin B1 exposure. Our previous study showed that CDK4/Cyclin D1 phosphorylates p53-RS at the cancer-derived Ser249 and promotes its interaction with c-Myc in the nucleus, consequently enhancing c-Myc-dependent ribosomal biogenesis and HCC cell proliferation. Here we explored the possibility of co-targeting CDK4 and p53-RS with available small molecule inhibitors as a potential combined therapy for HCC that harbor p53-RS. Indeed, co-treatment of p53-RS-containing, but not wild-type p53 or p53-null, HCC cells with PD-0332991 (PD), a CDK4/6 inhibitor, and CP-31398 (CP), a compound that can restore the intrinsic conformation and transcriptional activity of mutant p53, drastically repressed the c-Myc activation function of p53-RS. This combination of PD with CP exhibited a synergistic effect on the inhibition of HCC cell growth in a p53-RS dependent manner, especially at a lower dose. These results suggest that co-targeting CDK4 and p53-RS can serve as a potential approach for the development of an effective therapy for HCC that harbor p53-RS.

One step conjugation of some chemotherapeutic drugs to the biologically produced gold nanoparticles and assessment of their anticancer effects

Recent research tried to analyze the conjugation of some chemotherapeutic drugs to the biologically produced gold nanoparticles (GNPs) in one step, without the use of any additional linkers. GNPs was produced using Fusarium oxysporum and their presence was confirmed using spectrophotometer, transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analyses. In order to carry out the conjugation study, capecitabine, tamoxifen, and paclitaxel were added dropwise to the GNPs solution under stirring condition and spectrophotometer, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and FTIR analyses were performed to prove the successful conjugation. Finally, AGS and MCF7 cell lines were used for methyl thiazol tetrazolium (MTT) assay to determine the toxicity of each drug and its conjugated form. Results showed that the spherical and hexagonal GNPs with maximum absorbance peak around 524 nm and average sizes less than 20 nm were produced. FTIR analysis clarified the presence of proteins on the surfaces of the GNPs. After the conjugation process although the FTIR analysis demonstrated that all the drugs were successfully conjugated to GNPs, MTT assay revealed that unlike the paclitaxel conjugated GNPs, capecitabine and tamoxifen conjugates displayed no toxic effects due to their deactivation and low half-lives. Moreover the average size and polydispersity index (PDI) of the GNPs after conjugation with all the three tested drugs increased. In conclusion different types of drugs could conjugate to the GNPs but it is important to employ high stable forms of the drugs in the conjugation procedure.

Sulforaphane alleviates cadmium-induced toxicity in human mesenchymal stem cells through POR and TNFSF10 genes expression

Sulforaphane is a dietary compound possessing anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-carcinogenic, and anti-aging properties. The role of sulforaphane in the context of cadmium (Cd)-induced toxicity through the alteration of nuclear morphology, mitochondrial membrane potential, and gene expression patterns, however, remains unclear. Thus, we assessed the protective role of sulforaphane against Cd-induced nuclear and mitochondrial damage in human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). Cells were exposed to Cd and sulforaphane, either alone or in combination, for 48 h. The cell viability was assessed by adopting MTT assay. The nuclear morphology was investigated using Acridine orange/Ethidium bromide (AO/EB) dual staining and Hoechst staining. The mitochondrial membrane potential loss and lysosomal staining were analyzed using JC-1 staining and LysoRed staining respectively. The gene expression was studied using quantitative real-time PCR analysis. After 48 h of exposure to Cd, the viability of hMSCs decreased in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, a single treatment with the phytochemical sulforaphane did not cause any remarkable reduction in hMSC viability. Combined treatment with Cd and sulforaphane resulted in a marked recovery in cell viability compared to that observed in cells treated with Cd alone. Analysis of nuclear morphology indicated that Cd induced necrotic cell death, while combined Cd and sulforaphane treatment prevented nuclear morphology changes. Cd ions also significantly attenuate the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and alter gene expression in hMSCs; however, we observed that sulforaphane improves MMP under conditions of Cd-sulforaphane co-treatment of hMSCs. The gene expression results indicate that POR, TNFRSF1A and TNFSF10 genes expression are significantly upregulated by Cd-sulforaphane co-treatment than Cd or sulforaphane treatment alone. Our study results clearly indicate that sulforaphane can protect hMSCs against Cd-induced changes in nuclear morphology, attenuation of MMP, and alteration of gene expression patterns. Thus, intake of sulforaphane-enriched vegetables and fruits will be helpful to overcome Cd-induced toxicity in humans.

Effects of Recombinant Circularly Permuted Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand (TRAIL) (Recombinant Mutant Human TRAIL) in Combination with 5-Fluorouracil in Human Colorectal Cancer Cell Lines HCT116 and SW480

Background

Circularly permuted tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand, a mutant form of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand, is an effective antitumor cytokine. However, its antitumor effect in colorectal cancer is unclear. This study assessed the antitumor effect of circularly permuted tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand alone or with 5-fluorouracil in colorectal cancer cells in vitro and explored the underlying mechanisms.

Material/Methods

We used the (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium) (MTS) assay to analyze cell proliferation inhibition. The apoptotic effects of circularly permuted tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand, 5-fluorouracil, or both in human colorectal cancer cells were evaluated using flow cytometry. Furthermore, the levels of apoptosis-related proteins were examined by Western blotting.

Results

Compared to either agent alone, cotreatment with 5-fluorouracil and circularly permuted tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand showed obvious antitumor effects and induced significant apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells. 5-Fluorouracil enhanced circularly permuted tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand-induced apoptosis by increasing death receptor 4 and 5 levels in HCT116 cells, but only of death receptor 4 in SW480 cells. Moreover, 5-fluorouracil plus circularly permuted tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand increased apoptosis-related protein levels such as cleaved caspase-3, caspase-8, and poly-ADP-ribose polymerase and downregulated that of the survival protein B-cell lymphoma-extra-large. Pretreatment with the pan-caspase inhibitor, z-VAD-FMK, attenuated the caspase-dependent apoptosis induced by circularly permuted tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand alone or combined with 5-fluorouracil.

Conclusions

Cotreatment with 5-fluorouracil and circularly permuted tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand showed enhanced antitumor effects on colorectal cancer cells.

Enhancement of TRAIL-induced apoptosis by 5-fluorouracil requires activating Bax and p53 pathways in TRAIL-resistant lung cancers

Lung cancer, especially lung adenocarcinoma, is one of the main causes of death worldwide. Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a primary anticancer agent and a member of the tumor necrosis factor family that selectively induces apoptosis in various tumor cells, but not in normal cells. Combination chemotherapy can be used for treating specific cancer types even at progressive stages. In the present study, we observed that 5-fluorouracil, which exerts anticancer effects by inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, enhanced TRAIL-induced apoptosis of TRAIL-resistant human adenocarcinoma A549 cells. Interestingly, 5-fluorouracil treatment markedly increased Bax and p53 levels and 5-fluorouracil and TRAIL cotreatment increased Ac-cas3 and Ac-cas8 levels compared with those in control cells. Taken together, the present study demonstrated that 5-fluorouracil enhances TRAIL-induced apoptosis in TRAIL-resistant lung adenocarcinoma cells by activating Bax and p53, and also suggest that TRAIL and 5-fluorouracil cotreatment can be used as an adequate therapeutic strategy for TRAIL-resistant human cancers.

Synergistic Immuno Photothermal Nanotherapy (SYMPHONY) for the Treatment of Unresectable and Metastatic Cancers

Metastatic spread is the mechanism in more than 90 percent of cancer deaths and current therapeutic options, such as systemic chemotherapy, are often ineffective. Here we provide a proof of principle for a novel two-pronged modality referred to as Synergistic Immuno Photothermal Nanotherapy (SYMPHONY) having the potential to safely eradicate both primary tumors and distant metastatic foci. Using a combination of immune-checkpoint inhibition and plasmonic gold nanostar (GNS)–mediated photothermal therapy, we were able to achieve complete eradication of primary treated tumors and distant untreated tumors in some mice implanted with the MB49 bladder cancer cells. Delayed rechallenge with MB49 cancer cells injection in mice that appeared cured by SYMPHONY did not lead to new tumor formation after 60 days observation, indicating that SYMPHONY treatment induced effective long-lasting immunity against MB49 cancer cells.

Immuno-modulatory and cellular antioxidant activities of κ-selenocarrageenan in combination with Epirubicin in H22 hepatoma-bearing mice

BACKGROUND

Human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a high rate of tumor recurrence and metastasis, resulting in shortened survival time. The aim of this study is to evaluate the synergistic anti-tumor effects and underlying mechanism of κ-selenocarrageenan (KSC) in combination with the chemotherapy drug epirubicin (EPI) in H22 tumor-bearing mice.

METHODS

Hepatocellular carcinoma H22 cells were implanted into mice. After the transplants were successfully established, the animals were divided into four groups: namely the control group, the KSC group, the EPI group and the KSC+EPI group. The effects of KSC and EPI on tumor growth, survival time, thymus index, spleen index, white blood cells (WBC), splenocyte proliferation, natural killer (NK) cell activity, serum TNF-α and IL-2 levels, and antioxidant enzymes in the liver cells were determined.

RESULTS

KSC and/or EPI significantly reduced tumor weight and prolonged the survival time. Furthermore, KSC could attenuate EPI-induced atrophy in the thymus and spleen, as well as other toxicities, which may indicate an additive effect of this combination against organ dysfunction and cellular injury. KSC significantly promoted Con A- and LPS-stimulated splenocyte proliferation, enhanced NK cell activity, and reversed the inhibition of NK activity induced by EPI (P<0.01). In addition, KSC could elevate serum TNF-α and IL-2 levels, increase the GSH-Px, SOD, CAT and GSH activity levels in liver tissue, and reduce MDA content.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that KSC can regulate immune function in mice and suppress the growth of tumor in H22 tumor-bearing mice, and its synergistic antitumor activity with epirubicin may be related to its antioxidant and immuno-modulatory effects.

TRAIL and TRAIL receptors in patients with laryngeal cancer

BACKGROUND

Tumor necrosis factor-related associated-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a death ligand currently under clinical trials for laryngeal carcinoma.

METHODS

Paraffin-embedded tissues from 40 patients with laryngeal carcinoma and 20 patients with benign laryngeal pathologies were retrospectively analyzed using immunohistochemistry in terms of distribution and intensity, and for final analysis of immunoreactivity of receptors, H-score was used. The study group was assessed in terms of localization, lymph node staging, tumor stage, overall survival, disease-free survival, locoregional control, perineural invasion, and vascular invasion.

RESULTS

The H-score of decoy-R2 (DcR2) staining were increased significantly in tumor tissue (p = .04). A significantly greater increase in terms of H-score of DR5 receptor staining (p = .06) was detected in tumor tissue.

CONCLUSION

TRAIL-mediated gene therapy may not be effective. Indeed, the findings may indicate treatment resistance. TRAIL and TRAIL receptor levels were not associated with prognosis © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E535-E541, 2016.

5-Fluorouracil preferentially sensitizes mutant KRAS non-small cell lung carcinoma cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis

Mutations in the KRAS gene are very common in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but effective therapies targeting KRAS have yet to be developed. Interest in tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), a potent inducer of cell death, has increased following the observation that TRAIL can selectively kill a wide variety of human cancer cells without killing normal cells both in vitro and in xenograft models. However, results from clinical trials of TRAIL-based therapy are disappointingly modest at best and many have demonstrated a lack of therapeutic benefit. Current research has focused on selecting a subpopulation of cancer patients who may benefit from TRAIL-based therapy and identifying best drugs to work with TRAIL. In the current study, we found that NSCLC cells with a KRAS mutation were highly sensitive to treatment with TRAIL and 5-fluorouracil (5FU). Compared with other chemotherapeutic agents, 5FU displayed the highest synergy with TRAIL in inducing apoptosis in mutant KRAS NSCLC cells. We also found that, on a mechanistic level, 5FU preferentially repressed survivin expression and induced expression of TRAIL death receptor 5 to sensitize NSCLC cells to TRAIL. The combination of low-dose 5FU and TRAIL strongly inhibited xenograft tumor growth in mice. Our results suggest that the combination of TRAIL and 5FU may be beneficial for patients with mutant KRAS NSCLC.