title: Sensitization to gimatecan-induced apoptosis by tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis inducing ligand in prostate carcinoma cells.
abstract: Since the intrinsic resistance of prostate carcinoma likely reflects a low susceptibility to drug-induced apoptosis, in this study we explored the possibility of sensitizing prostate carcinoma cells to apoptosis by combination of TRAIL with camptothecins. Indeed, these agents are known to activate different pathways of apoptosis. Topotecan- and gimatecan induced moderate up-regulation of TRAIL-R1 and -R2 which resulted in a different cell response to the combination in androgen-independent cells (DU-145 and PC-3). In DU-145 cells apoptosis was increased by lower TRAIL concentrations and was earlier than in PC-3 cells, as shown using Annexin V-binding assay. The relative resistance of PC-3 cells to drug-induced apoptosis was associated with constitutive Akt activation, higher levels of cFLIP-L and Bcl-2, and lower levels of Bax. The different expression/activation of apoptosis-related factors appears to influence the sensitization of prostate carcinoma cells by TRAIL. Potentiation of camptothecin-induced apoptosis by TRAIL appears dependent on cooperation between extrinsic and intrinsic pathways, as documented by loss of the sensitization to apoptosis following reduction of caspase 8 after small interfering RNA transfection. The efficacy of the approach may be critically dependent on the intrinsic susceptibility to apoptosis of different tumors. These observations support that the activation of multiple signals could enhance apoptotic response and suggest the therapeutic interest of the TRAIL/camptothecin combination.
authors.affiliation: Preclinical Chemotherapy and Pharmacology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology and Laboratories, Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, Via Venezian 1, 20133 Milan, Italy. paola.perego@istitutotumori.mi.it
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Perego
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ciusani
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gatti
authors.forename: Nives
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Carenini
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Corna
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zunino
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D053181:Caspase 8; D020169:Caspases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D004357:Drug Synergism; D020868:Gene Silencing / Q000187:drug effects; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics; D053220:Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; D019772:Topotecan / Q000494:pharmacology; D014162:Transfection; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D004338:Drug Combinations; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D053220:Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; C433984:ST 1481; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; C105190:TNFRSF10A protein, human; C505639:TNFRSF10B protein, human; C505653:TNFSF10 protein, human; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019772:Topotecan; C505530:CASP8 protein, human; D053181:Caspase 8; D020169:Caspases; D002166:Camptothecin