title: Effects of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 and farnesyltransferase inhibitor SCH66336 on Akt expression and apoptosis in non-small-cell lung cancer cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Overexpression of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) induces apoptosis in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells in vitro and in vivo. However, Ras-mediated signaling pathways could develop resistance to apoptotic activities of IGFBP-3 in NSCLC cells. We thus evaluated the therapeutic potential of the combination of IGFBP-3 and SCH66336, a farnesyltransferase inhibitor that blocks Ras activation, in NSCLC cell lines.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effects of the combination of adenoviral IGFBP-3 (Ad-IGFBP3) and SCH66336 on proliferation and apoptosis of NSCLC cell lines (H1299, H596, A549, H460, H358, H322, and H226B) were assessed in vitro and in vivo by using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, a flow cytometry-based terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling assay, western blot analyses, and an NSCLC xenograft tumor model. The specific effects of Ad-IGFBP 3 and SCH66336 on mitogen-activated protein kinase and Akt were assessed by using adenoviral vectors that express constitutively active MEK1 or constitutively active Akt. Synergy was assessed by median effect analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The combination of Ad-IGFBP3 and SCH66336 had synergistic antiproliferative effects in five cell lines (H1299, H596, A549, H460, and H322). Antiproliferative effects were accompanied by increased apoptosis in H460 cells in vitro. Overexpression of a constitutively active Akt but not a constitutively active MEK-1 rescued H460 cells from apoptosis induced by single or combined treatment of Ad-IGFBP3 and SCH66336. In H1299 tumor xenografts, Ad-IGFBP3 and SCH66336 was associated with decreased tumor volume, increased apoptosis, and decreased Akt levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of Ad-IGFBP3 and SCH66336 decreased Akt expression and increased apoptosis in NSCLC cells in vitro and in vivo. Simultaneous treatment with IGFBP-3 and SCH66336 may have the potential to be an effective therapeutic strategy in NSCLC.
authors.affiliation: Unit 432, Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030, USA. hlee@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: Ho-Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hojin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Kyung-Hee
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.forename: Yoon-Soo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Khaled
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Reuben
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lotan
authors.forename: Fadlo R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Khuri
authors.forename: Waun Ki
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000256:Adenoviridae; D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D000818:Animals; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D051231:Farnesyltranstransferase; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D015696:Gene Products, tat / Q000187:drug effects; D011905:Genes, ras / Q000187:drug effects; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D048369:MAP Kinase Kinase 1; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000187:drug effects; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000187:drug effects; D003986:Dibenzocycloheptenes
chemical_list: D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D051231:Farnesyltranstransferase; D015696:Gene Products, tat; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; D048369:MAP Kinase Kinase 1; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; D010880:Piperidines; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D011725:Pyridines; D018631:ras Proteins; C494918:AKT1 protein, human; C482125:MAP2K1 protein, human; C482127:Map2k1 protein, mouse; C115354:lonafarnib; D003986:Dibenzocycloheptenes