title: G3139 antisense oligonucleotide directed against antiapoptotic Bcl-2 enhances doxorubicin cytotoxicity in the FU-SY-1 synovial sarcoma cell line.
abstract: Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a highly aggressive, periarticular soft tissue sarcoma that causes death in more than half of affected children, adolescents, and young adults. Five- and 10-year survival rates are as low as 36 and 20%, respectively. Bcl-2, a negative regulator of apoptosis, is overexpressed in up to 90% of SS. Increased Bcl-2 expression not only leads to the development of cancer, but also to resistance of many anticancer chemotherapeutic agents. We hypothesized reducing Bcl-2 expression in SS should enhance doxorubicin cytotoxicity. Cell cultures representing two human sarcomas (FU-SY-1 SS and the pleomorphic SW982) and a primary human dermal fibroblast comparator (NHDF) were exposed in vitro to doxorubicin, or to doxorubicin preceded by Bcl-2 (G3139) antisense oligonucleotides, and assayed for cell survival, apoptosis, and modulations in Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL mRNA and protein content. SW982 sarcoma cells proved most susceptible to doxorubicin, while NHDF mesenchymal cells were least sensitive to doxorubicin. Treatment of FU-SY-1 SS with G3139 reduced Bcl-2 mRNA and protein levels, which enhanced doxorubicin-induced cell killing. There was a concurrent reduction in Bcl-xL mRNA following G3139 application in FU-SY-1 and NHDF cultures, but not in SW982. G3139 anti-Bcl-2 intervention sensitized the FU-SY-1 SS to doxorubicin, due to increased apoptosis. G3139 intervention was ineffective in the two non-SS cell lines.
authors.affiliation: SARC Laboratory, Sarcoma Services, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, 2000 Circle of Hope, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA.
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Joyner
authors.forename: Karen H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Albritton
authors.forename: Jeffrey D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Bastar
authors.forename: R Lor
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Randall
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013584:Sarcoma, Synovial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004317:Doxorubicin