title: Bortezomib-mediated proteasome inhibition as a potential strategy for the treatment of rhabdomyosarcoma.
abstract: Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft-tissue sarcoma of childhood, divided into two major histological subtypes, embryonal (ERMS) and alveolar (ARMS). To explore the possibility that the proteasome could be a target of therapeutic value in rhabdomyosarcoma, we treated several RMS cell lines with the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib (Velcade or PS-341) at a concentration of 13-26 nM. RMS cells showed high sensitivity to the drug, whereas no toxic effect was observed in primary human myoblasts. In both ERMS and ARMS cells bortezomib promoted apoptosis, activation of caspase 3 and 7 and induced a dose-dependent reduction of anchorage-independent growth. Furthermore, bortezomib induced activation of the stress response, cell cycle arrest and the reduction of NF-kappaB transcriptional activity. Finally, bortezomib decreased tumour growth and impaired cells viability, proliferation and angiogenesis in a xenograft model of RMS. In conclusion, our data indicate that bortezomib could represent a novel drug against RMS tumours.
authors.affiliation: Center for Experimental Research and Medical Studies (CeRMS), University of Torino, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bersani
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Taulli
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Accornero
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morotti
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miretti
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Crepaldi
authors.forename: Carola
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ponzetto
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001897:Boronic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069286:Bortezomib; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000517:prevention & control; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061988:Proteasome Inhibitors; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012208:Rhabdomyosarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D001897:Boronic Acids; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D061988:Proteasome Inhibitors; D011719:Pyrazines; D000069286:Bortezomib