Targeting NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) in pancreatic cancer.
NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) functions as an important part of cellular antioxidant defense by detoxifying quinones, thus preventing the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The aim of our study was to determine if NQO1 is elevated in pancreatic cancer specimens and pancreatic cancer cell lines and if so, would compounds previously demonstrated to redox cycle with NQO1 be effective in killing pancreatic cancer cells. Immunohistochemistry of resected pancreatic specimens demonstrated an increased immunoreactivity for NQO1 in pancreatic cancer and pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) specimens versus normal human pancreas. Immunocytochemistry and Western immunoblots demonstrated increased immunoreactivity in pancreatic cancer cells when compared to a near normal immortalized human pancreatic ductal epithelial cell line and a colonic epithelial cell line. Streptonigrin, a compound known to cause redox cycling in the presence of NQO1, decreased clonogenic survival and decreased anchorage-independent growth in soft agar. Streptonigrin had little effect on cell lines with absent or reduced levels of NQO1. The effects of streptonigrin were reversed in pancreatic cancer cells pretreated with dicumarol, a known inhibitor of NQO1. NQO1 may be a therapeutic target in pancreatic cancer where survival is measured in months.
Lewis
Anne M
AM
University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
Ough
Matthew
M
Hinkhouse
Marilyn M
MM
Tsao
Ming-Sound
MS
Oberley
Larry W
LW
Cullen
Joseph J
JJ
D000362:Agar; D015153:Blotting, Western; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016660:NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone) / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D010641:Phenotype; D013308:Streptonigrin / Q000494:pharmacology; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D013308:Streptonigrin; D000362:Agar; D016660:NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone); C447479:NQO1 protein, human