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Mihanfar A, Asghari F, Majidinia M. Ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) inhibition by VE-822 potently reversed 5-flourouracil resistance in colorectal cancer cells through targeting DNA damage response. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:474. [PMID: 38553623 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-024-09431-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND VE-822 is a novel inhibitor of ATR, a key kinase involved in the DNA damage response pathway. The role of ATR inhibition in reversing drug resistance in various cancer types has been investigated. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of ATR inhibition by VE-822 on reversing 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) resistance in colorectal cancer cell line (Caco-2). METHODS Caco-2 and 5-FU resistance Caco-2 (Caco-2/5-FU) cells were treated with 5-FU and VE-822, alone and in combination. Cell proliferation and viability were assessed by MTT assay and Trypan Blue staining. P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1) activities were measured by Rhodamine123 accumulation and uptake assay. The mRNA levels of P-gp, MRP-1, ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) and checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1) were measured by qRT-PCR. Western blot was used to measure the protein levels of P-gp, MRP-1, γ-H2AX, ATR and CHK1 in cells. 8-Oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG) levels were determined via ELISA. Apoptosis was evaluated by ELISA death assay, DAPI staining and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay. RESULTS The Caco-2/5-FU cells showed lower levels of 5-FU mediated proliferation inhibition in comparison to Caco-2 cells. VE-822 decreased the IC50 value of 5-FU on resistant cells. In addition, the expression levels and activity of P-gp and MRP-1 were significantly decreased in resistant cells treated with VE-822 (P < 0.05). The combination of 5-FU and VE-822 increased apoptosis in Caco-2/5-FU cells by downregulating CHK1 and ATR and upregulating γ-H2AX and 8-oxo-dG. CONCLUSION The simultaneous treatment of resistant colorectal cancer cells with 5-FU and ATR inhibitor, VE-822, was demonstrated to be effective in reversing drug resistance and potentiating 5-FU mediated anticancer effects via targeting DNA damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ainaz Mihanfar
- Solid Tumor Research Center, Cellular and Molecular Medicine Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Faezeh Asghari
- Immunology Department, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Majidinia
- Solid Tumor Research Center, Cellular and Molecular Medicine Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.
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Schnoell J, Sparr C, Al-Gboore S, Haas M, Brkic FF, Kadletz-Wanke L, Heiduschka G, Jank BJ. The ATR inhibitor berzosertib acts as a radio- and chemosensitizer in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines. Invest New Drugs 2023; 41:842-850. [PMID: 37934325 PMCID: PMC10663216 DOI: 10.1007/s10637-023-01408-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Alterations in the DNA damage response play a crucial role in radio- and chemoresistance of neoplastic cells. Activation of the Ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) pathway is an important DNA damage response mechanism in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Berzosertib, a selective ATR inhibitor, shows promising radio- and chemosensitizing effects in preclinical studies and is well tolerated in clinical studies. The aim of this study was to elucidate the effect of berzosertib treatment in combination with radiation and cisplatin in HNSCC. The HNSCC cell lines Cal-27 and FaDu were treated with berzosertib alone and in combination with radiation or cisplatin. Cell viability and clonogenic survival were evaluated. The effect of combination treatment was evaluated with the SynergyFinder or combination index. Apoptosis was assessed via measurement of caspase 3/7 activation and migration was evaluated using a wound healing assay. Berzosertib treatment decreased cell viability in a dose-dependent manner and increased apoptosis. The IC50 of berzosertib treatment after 72 h was 0.25-0.29 µM. Combination with irradiation treatment led to a synergistic increase in radiosensitivity and a synergistic or additive decrease in colony formation. The combination of berzosertib and cisplatin decreased cell viability in a synergistic manner. Additionally, berzosertib inhibited migration at high doses. Berzosertib displays a cytotoxic effect in HNSCC at clinically relevant doses. Further evaluation of combination treatment with irradiation and cisplatin is strongly recommended in HNSCC patients as it may hold the potential to overcome treatment resistance, reduce treatment doses and thus mitigate adverse events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Schnoell
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Carmen Sparr
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sega Al-Gboore
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Markus Haas
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Faris F Brkic
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lorenz Kadletz-Wanke
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gregor Heiduschka
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Bernhard J Jank
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Hur J, Ghosh M, Kim TH, Park N, Pandey K, Cho YB, Hong SD, Katuwal NB, Kang M, An HJ, Moon YW. Synergism of AZD6738, an ATR Inhibitor, in Combination with Belotecan, a Camptothecin Analogue, in Chemotherapy-Resistant Ovarian Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22031223. [PMID: 33513721 PMCID: PMC7865398 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22031223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial ovarian cancer remains the leading cause of mortality among all gynecologic malignancies owing to recurrence and ultimate development of chemotherapy resistance in the majority of patients. In the chemotherapy-resistant ovarian cancer preclinical model, we investigated whether AZD6738 (an ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) inhibitor) could synergize with belotecan (a camptothecin analog and topoisomerase I inhibitor). In vitro, both chemotherapy-resistant and chemotherapy-sensitive ovarian cancer cell lines showed synergistic anti-proliferative activity with a combination treatment of belotecan and AZD6738. The combination also demonstrated synergistic tumor inhibition in mice with a chemotherapy-resistant cell line xenograft. Mechanistically, belotecan, a DNA-damaging agent, increased phospho-ATR (pATR) and phospho-Chk1 (pChk1) in consecutive order, indicating the activation of the DNA repair system. This consequently induced G2/M arrest in the cell cycle analysis. However, when AZD6738 was added to belotecan, pATR and pChk1 induced by belotecan alone were suppressed again. A cell cycle analysis in betotecan showed a sub-G1 increase as well as a G2/M decrease, representing the release of G2/M arrest and the induction of apoptosis. In ascites-derived primary cancer cells from both chemotherapy-sensitive and -resistant ovarian cancer patients, this combination was also synergistic, providing further support for our hypothesis. The combined administration of ATR inhibitor and belotecan proved to be synergistic in our preclinical model. This combination warrants further investigation in a clinical trial, with a particular aim of overcoming chemotherapy resistance in ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Hur
- Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam 13496, Korea; (J.H.); (M.G.); (N.P.); (K.P.); (Y.B.C.); (S.D.H.); (N.B.K.); (M.K.)
- Department of Biomedical Science, The Graduate School, CHA University, Seongnam 13496, Korea
| | - Mithun Ghosh
- Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam 13496, Korea; (J.H.); (M.G.); (N.P.); (K.P.); (Y.B.C.); (S.D.H.); (N.B.K.); (M.K.)
- Department of Biomedical Science, The Graduate School, CHA University, Seongnam 13496, Korea
| | - Tae Heon Kim
- Department of Pathology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam 13496, Korea; (T.H.K.); (H.J.A.)
| | - Nahee Park
- Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam 13496, Korea; (J.H.); (M.G.); (N.P.); (K.P.); (Y.B.C.); (S.D.H.); (N.B.K.); (M.K.)
| | - Kamal Pandey
- Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam 13496, Korea; (J.H.); (M.G.); (N.P.); (K.P.); (Y.B.C.); (S.D.H.); (N.B.K.); (M.K.)
| | - Young Bin Cho
- Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam 13496, Korea; (J.H.); (M.G.); (N.P.); (K.P.); (Y.B.C.); (S.D.H.); (N.B.K.); (M.K.)
| | - Sa Deok Hong
- Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam 13496, Korea; (J.H.); (M.G.); (N.P.); (K.P.); (Y.B.C.); (S.D.H.); (N.B.K.); (M.K.)
- Department of Biomedical Science, The Graduate School, CHA University, Seongnam 13496, Korea
| | - Nar Bahadur Katuwal
- Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam 13496, Korea; (J.H.); (M.G.); (N.P.); (K.P.); (Y.B.C.); (S.D.H.); (N.B.K.); (M.K.)
- Department of Biomedical Science, The Graduate School, CHA University, Seongnam 13496, Korea
| | - Minsil Kang
- Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam 13496, Korea; (J.H.); (M.G.); (N.P.); (K.P.); (Y.B.C.); (S.D.H.); (N.B.K.); (M.K.)
| | - Hee Jung An
- Department of Pathology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam 13496, Korea; (T.H.K.); (H.J.A.)
| | - Yong Wha Moon
- Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam 13496, Korea; (J.H.); (M.G.); (N.P.); (K.P.); (Y.B.C.); (S.D.H.); (N.B.K.); (M.K.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-31-780-3436; Fax: +82-31-780-3929
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Vinod N, Hwang D, Azam SH, Van Swearingen AED, Wayne E, Fussell SC, Sokolsky-Papkov M, Pecot CV, Kabanov AV. High-capacity poly(2-oxazoline) formulation of TLR 7/8 agonist extends survival in a chemo-insensitive, metastatic model of lung adenocarcinoma. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:eaba5542. [PMID: 32596460 PMCID: PMC7299629 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aba5542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
About 40% of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have stage IV cancer at the time of diagnosis. The only viable treatment options for metastatic disease are systemic chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Nonetheless, chemoresistance remains a major cause of chemotherapy failure. New immunotherapeutic modalities such as anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint blockade have shown promise; however, response to such strategies is highly variable across patients. Here, we show that our unique poly(2-oxazoline)-based nanomicellar formulation (PM) of Resiquimod, an imidazoquinoline Toll-like receptor (TLR) 7/8 agonist, had a superior tumor inhibitory effect in a metastatic model of lung adenocarcinoma, relative to anti-PD-1 therapy or platinum-based chemotherapy. Investigation of the in vivo immune status following Resiquimod PM treatment showed that Resiquimod-based stimulation of antigen-presenting cells in the tumor microenvironment resulted in the mobilization of an antitumor CD8+ immune response. Our study demonstrates the promise of poly(2-oxazoline)-formulated Resiquimod for treating metastatic NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Vinod
- Center for Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery and Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Joint UNC/NC State Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7575, USA
| | - Duhyeong Hwang
- Center for Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery and Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Salma H. Azam
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Amanda E. D. Van Swearingen
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Elizabeth Wayne
- Center for Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery and Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Sloane Christian Fussell
- Department of Biology, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Marina Sokolsky-Papkov
- Center for Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery and Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Chad V. Pecot
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Alexander V. Kabanov
- Center for Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery and Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Laboratory of Chemical Design of Bionanomaterials, Faculty of Chemistry, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119992, Russia
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