AT-101 acts as anti-proliferative and hormone suppressive agent in mouse pituitary corticotroph tumor cells

PURPOSE

Gossypol, a naturally occurring compound in cottonseeds, has anticancer effects against several tumor cell lines. It has been extensively studied in clinical trials and is well tolerated with a favorable safety profile. AT-101, a derivative of R (-)-gossypol, binds to Bcl-2 family proteins and induces apoptosis in vitro. Although transsphenoidal surgical excision of the pituitary corticotroph adenoma is the gold standard of care, it is not successful all the time. Medical therapy for Cushing's disease still remains a challenge for the clinicians. We aimed to investigate the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of AT-101 in mouse pituitary corticotroph tumor AtT20 cells.

METHODS

Cytotoxic effect of AT-101 was assessed by XTT cell viability assay. Apoptosis was shown by measuring DNA fragmentation and Caspase-3/7 activity. Changes in mRNA expressions of apoptosis-related genes were investigated by qPCR array after treatment with AT-101. ACTH was measured by ACTH-EIA Kit.

RESULTS

AT-101 induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis in AtT20 cells. mRNA levels of pro-apoptotic genes such as TNFR-SF-10B, Bid, PYCARD, Caspase-8, Caspase-3, and Caspase-7 were induced by 2.0-, 1.5-, 1.7-, 1.5-, 1.6-, and 2-fold, respectively, in AtT20 cells by AT-101 treatment. Moreover, some of the anti-apoptotic genes such as BCL2L10, NAIP1, and PAK-7 were reduced by 2.1-, 2.3-, 4.0-fold, respectively, in AtT20 cells. AT-101 also decreased ACTH secretion significantly.

CONCLUSION

AT-101 induces apoptosis in mouse pituitary corticotroph tumor cells.

Effects of exercise on angiogenesis and apoptosis-related molecules, quality of life, fatigue and depression in breast cancer patients

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of exercise on angiogenesis and apoptosis-related molecules, quality of life, fatigue and depression in patients who completed breast cancer treatment. Sixty breast cancer patients were randomised into three groups, as supervised exercise group, home exercise group and education group. Angiogenesis and apoptosis-related cytokine levels and quality of life (EORTC QOL-C30: European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life C30), fatigue (Brief Fatigue Inventory) and depression (BDI: Beck Depression Inventory) scores were compared before and after a 12-week exercise programme. After the exercise programme, statistically significant decreases were found in interleukin-8 and neutrophil activating protein-78 levels in the home exercise group (P < 0.05). The education group showed a statistically significant increase in monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 level (P < 0.05). Functional score and global health score of EORTC QOL-C30 in the supervised exercise group and functional score of EORTC QOL-C30 in the home exercise group increased significantly after exercise programme (P < 0.05). BDI score was significantly lower in the supervised exercise group after the exercise programme (P < 0.05). Changes in angiogenesis and apoptosis-related molecules in the study groups suggest a possible effect of exercise on these parameters. Exercise programmes are safe and effective on quality of life and depression in breast cancer patients whose treatments are complete.