title: Preclinical studies of a nonpeptidic small-molecule inhibitor of Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(L) [(-)-gossypol] against diffuse large cell lymphoma.
abstract: Overexpression of Bcl-2/Bcl-X(L) protein has been observed in more than 80% of B-cell lymphomas. Diffuse large cell lymphoma (DLCL) is the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. (-)-Gossypol, a natural product isolated from cottonseeds, was discovered as a potent small-molecule inhibitor of Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(L) proteins, with a Ki value in the nanomole per liter range for both. In vitro, (-)-gossypol showed significant growth inhibition effect against WSU-DLCL2 lymphoma cell line and fresh cells obtained from a lymphoma patient with no effect on normal peripheral blood lymphocytes. As expected (-)-gossypol induced complete cytochrome c release from mitochondria, increased caspases-3 and -9 activity, and caused apoptotic death without affecting protein levels of Bcl-2, Bcl-X(L), Bax, and Bak. The addition of cyclophosphamide-Adriamycin-vincristine-prednisolone (CHOP) regimen to lymphoma cells preexposed to (-)-gossypol enhanced killing significantly. The maximum tolerated dose of (-)-gossypol in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice was 40 mg/kg for three i.v. injections when given alone and 20 mg/kg x 3 when given in combination with CHOP. Using WSU-DLCL2-SCID mouse xenograft model, the tumor growth inhibition, the tumor growth delay, and the log10 kill of mice treated with (-)-gossypol + CHOP were better than CHOP or (-)-gossypol alone. We conclude that adding Bcl-2/Bcl-X(L) small-molecule inhibitor to standard chemotherapy may prove an effective strategy in lymphoma therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 724 HWCRC, 4100 John R. Street, Detroit, MI 48201, USA. Mohammad@karmanos.org
authors.forename: Ramzi M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Mohammad
authors.forename: Shaomeng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Amro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aboukameel
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xihan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Jianyong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ayad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Katib
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D053148:Caspase 3; D053453:Caspase 9; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D045304:Cytochromes c; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006072:Gossypol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D051020:bcl-X Protein
chemical_list: C494811:BCL2L1 protein, human; C494812:Bcl2l1 protein, mouse; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051020:bcl-X Protein; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D045304:Cytochromes c; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; C506433:CASP9 protein, human; C505409:Casp3 protein, mouse; C506434:Casp9 protein, mouse; D053148:Caspase 3; D053453:Caspase 9; D020169:Caspases; D006072:Gossypol; D011241:Prednisone