title: Farnesylthiosalicylic acid induces caspase activation and apoptosis in glioblastoma cells.
abstract: Primary glioblastomas (GBMs) commonly overexpress the oncogene epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which leads to increased Ras activity. FTA, a novel Ras inhibitor, produced both time- and dose-dependent caspase-mediated apoptosis in GBM cell lines. EGFR-mediated increase in 3H-thymidine uptake was inhibited by FTA. FACS analysis was performed to determine the percent of apoptotic cells. The sub-Go population of GBM cells was increased from 4.5 to 13.8% (control) to over 45-53.6% in FTA-treated cells within 24 h. Furthermore, FTA also increased the activities of both caspase-3 and -9, and PARP cleavage. Treatment of GBMs with FTA before or after EGF addition to the cultures blocked phosphorylation of Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK). FTA also significantly reduced the amount of EGF-induced Ras-GTP as reflected by a decrease in the level of Ras bound to Raf-RBD-GST. This study demonstrates that inhibition of Ras methylation may provide a therapeutic target for the treatment of GBMs overexpressing EGFR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amos
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Redpath
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Polar
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McPheson
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schiff
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Hussaini
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D053148:Caspase 3; D053453:Caspase 9; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000187:drug effects; D005204:Farnesol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D012459:Salicylates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D012459:Salicylates; C093323:farnesylthiosalicylic acid; D005204:Farnesol; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; C506433:CASP9 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D053453:Caspase 9; D020169:Caspases; D018631:ras Proteins