WRC-213, an l-methionine-conjugated mitoxantrone derivative, displays anticancer activity with reduced cardiotoxicity and drug resistance: identification of topoisomerase II inhibition and apoptotic machinery in prostate cancers.
Anthracyclines and anthracenediones are well-known cancer chemotherapeutic agents but their uses are limited with cardiotoxicity and drug resistance. Several l- and d-form amino acids were introduced into the anthraquinone skeleton and numerous derivatives were synthesized for the evaluation of anticancer activity. The screening tests showed that WRC-213, an l-methionine conjugation, was the most effective derivative to inhibit proliferative effect of human androgen-independent prostate cancer PC-3 cells (IC50=50 nM). In an extension evaluation, WRC-213 displayed a potent anti-proliferative activity in various cancer cell lines, including non-small cell lung cancer A549, androgen-independent prostate cancer DU145, colorectal cancer HT-29, breast cancer MCF-7 and hepatocellular carcinoma Hep3B and HepG2. It induced cell-cycle arrest at S and G2, but not mitotic phase, in PC-3 cells. The comet assay revealed that induction of DNA damage and inhibition of topoisomerase II were the primary insults. After the checkpoint arrest of the cell-cycle, WRC-213 induced the mitochondria-mediated intrinsic apoptotic pathway, including Mcl-1 cleavage, Bcl-2 down-regulation and activation of caspase-9/caspase-3 cascades. Survivin degradation and caspase-2 activation also contributed to WRC-213-induced apoptosis. Moreover, the assessment of cytotoxicity in H9c2 cardiomyocytes and drug resistance in NCI/ADR-RES cells demonstrated that WRC-213 showed much lower cardiotoxicity and P-glycoprotein-related resistance than those of mitoxantrone, etoposide and doxorubicin. In conclusion, it is suggested that WRC-213 is a potential topoisomerase II inhibitor with reduced cardiotoxicity and drug resistance. It inhibits topoisomerase II activity and induces chromosomal DNA strand breaks, leading to S and G2 arrest of the cell-cycle and activation of mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathways.
Department of Life Sciences and Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan.
Che-Jen
CJ
Hsiao
Tsia-Kun
TK
Li
Ya-Ling
YL
Chan
Ling-Wei
LW
Hsin
Cho-Hwa
CH
Liao
Chien-Hua
CH
Lee
Ping-Chiang
PC
Lyu
Jih-Hwa
JH
Guh
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000187:drug effects*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008715:Methionine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008942:Mitoxantrone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D015394:Molecular Structure; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000187:drug effects*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D059005:Topoisomerase II Inhibitors
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D059005:Topoisomerase II Inhibitors; C528113:WRC 213; D008715:Methionine; D008942:Mitoxantrone