Retinoid receptors and the induction of apoptosis in canine osteosarcoma cells

Retinoids induce growth inhibition and apoptosis in mast cell tumor cell lines

Retinoids are well recognized as promising antitumor agents in humans. However, there have only been a few reports about the effect of retinoids in canine cancers. To investigate the antitumor effect of retinoids on mast cell tumors (MCT), inhibitory effect on cell growth and induction of apoptosis were examined in vitro. Although sensitivity of these cells differed among the cells, the growth of three MCT cell lines (CoMS, CM-MC and VI-MC) were inhibited dose dependently when they were treated with retinoids. FACS analysis of PI-stained nuclei revealed an apoptotic fraction in CM-MC cells about 30% when treated with retinoids, while those of control cells were less than 5%. Caspase-3 activation was observed after retinoid treatment in CM-MC cells. This was confirmed by inhibiting the retinoid-induced apoptosis using the pan-caspase inhibitor, ZVAD-FMK. Both retinoid receptors, RARs and RXRs, were detected by immunoprecipitation followed by western blot analysis in all the three MCT cells. These data suggests that retinoids inhibit the growth of MCTs partly through apoptosis, and this growth inhibition by retinoids may be mediated by RARs and RXRs. We conclude that retinoid may be a potential adjunctive chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of canine MCT.

Mechanisms of anticancer drug resistance

Chemotherapy agents are extremely important in the treatment of liquid malignancies, such as lymphoma, myeloma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. In addition, chemotherapy agents have proven effective in the adjuvant treatment of solid tumors, such as osteosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma, transitional cell carcinoma, and others. Unfortunately, chemotherapy resistance in these situations is the most significant cause of treatment failure. Therefore, the ability to predict, treat, or circumvent resistance is extremely likely to improve clinical outcomes. This article has reviewed the most widely investigated forms of chemotherapy resistance, such as reduced drug accumulation, increased DNA damage repair, decreased apoptosis, and others; however, new mechanisms are being found at an alarming pace. In addition, investigations to date have routinely centered on single-cell mechanisms of drug resistance, and cancer is truly a three dimensional disease. The elucidation of mechanisms surrounding (1) how tumors interact with their normal microenvironment, (2) how tumors interact in a three-dimensional environment, and (3) a better understanding of basic tumor physiology and biology may supersede in importance those previously elucidated single-cell mechanisms of chemoresistance.

Effect of natural and synthetic retinoids on the proliferation and differentiation of three canine melanoma cell lines

The effect of two natural retinoids and synthetic retinoids with or without retinoid synergists on the proliferation and differentiation of 3 melanoma cell lines were investigated in vitro. No retinoids showed significant growth inhibitory effect on these cell lines when used alone, however, cell differentiation and significant growth inhibition were observed when treated with a combination of retinoids and a retinoid synergist. This study may suggest that, though the cells showed low susceptibilities when retinoids were treated alone, the combination of retinoids and a retinoid synergist may be effective to control the growth of canine melanoma cell lines.