title: Therapeutic targeting of the endothelin a receptor in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
abstract: The endothelin A receptor (ET(A)R) autocrine pathway is overexpressed in many malignancies, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). In this tumor, ET(A)R expression is an independent determinant of survival and a robust independent predictor of distant metastasis. To evaluate whether ET(A)R represents a new target in NPC treatment, we tested the therapeutic role of ET(A)R in NPC. Cell proliferation was inhibited by the ET(A)R-selective antagonist ABT-627 in two ET(A)R-positive NPC cells in a dose-dependent manner. Proliferation of ET(A)R-negative NPC cells was not decreased. ET(A)R blockade also resulted in sensitization to cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil-induced apoptosis. In nude mice, ABT-627 inhibited the growth of NPC cell xenografts. Combined treatment of ABT-627 with the cytotoxic drug cisplatin or 5-fluorouracil produced additive antitumor effects. The antitumor activity of ABT-627 was demonstrated finally on an experimental lung metastasis by a reduction in the number of tumors. These results support the rationale of combining ABT-627 with current standard chemotherapy to further improve the therapeutic ratio in the treatment of NPC.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Hai-Qiang
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Mai
authors.forename: Zong-Yuan
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Kai-Tao
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Yan-Li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Chang-Qing
authors.initials: CQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Wei-Jiang
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Hao-Yuan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Mo
authors.forename: Ming-Huang
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D000077868:Atrasentan; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D065130:Endothelin A Receptor Antagonists; D065131:Endothelin B Receptor Antagonists; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011759:Pyrrolidines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D044022:Receptor, Endothelin A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D044023:Receptor, Endothelin B / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D065130:Endothelin A Receptor Antagonists; D065131:Endothelin B Receptor Antagonists; D019332:Endothelin-1; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D044022:Receptor, Endothelin A; D044023:Receptor, Endothelin B; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil; D000077868:Atrasentan