title: Growth inhibition of non-small-cell lung carcinoma by BN/GRP antagonist is linked with suppression of K-Ras, COX-2, and pAkt.
abstract: Bombesin (BN) or gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) can stimulate the growth of neoplasms such as breast cancer and small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). Antagonists of BN/GRP have been shown to inhibit these cancers. We evaluated whether antagonists of BN/GRP can suppress the growth of human non-SCLC (NSCLC) xenografted into nude mice. The effect of the administration of BN/GRP antagonist RC-3940-II on the growth of H460 and A549 NSCLC cell lines orthotopically xenografted into the intrapulmonary interstitium was examined. Protein levels of K-Ras, COX-2, Akt/pAkt, WT p53, Erk1/2, and lung resistance-related protein (LRP) in tumors were analyzed by Western blot analaysis, and receptors for BN/GRP were investigated by radioligand-binding studies. The effect of RC-3940-II on the proliferation of H460 and A549 cells in vitro was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays. High-affinity receptors for BN/GRP were found on tumors. Treatment with RC-3940-II significantly (P < 0.001) inhibited growth of H460 and A549 NSCLC xenografts by 30-50% and led to an improved performance status, compared with controls. In H460 NSCLC, the antitumor effect was associated with a significant (P < 0.001) reduction in protein levels of K-Ras, COX-2, pAkt, and pERK1/2 and with a major augmentation in the expression of WT p53, compared with controls. In A549 NSCLC, pAkt and LRP were significantly down-regulated. Our findings demonstrate the efficacy of BN/GRP antagonist RC-3940-II for the treatment of NSCLC. The suppression of K-Ras, COX-2, pAkt, and LRP, as well as the up-regulation of WT p53 might contribute to the antitumor action of BN/GRP antagonists.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hohla
authors.forename: Andrew V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Schally
authors.forename: Celia A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Kanashiro
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Buchholz
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Chandrika
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kannadka
authors.forename: Angelika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moder
authors.forename: Elmar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aigner
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Datz
authors.forename: Gabor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Halmos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001839:Bombesin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D019886:Gastrin-Releasing Peptide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism*; D018004:Receptors, Bombesin / Q000378:metabolism; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; D018004:Receptors, Bombesin; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; C096400:bombesin(6-14), Hca(6)-Leu(13)-psi(CH2N)-Tac(14)-; D019886:Gastrin-Releasing Peptide; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D018631:ras Proteins; D001839:Bombesin