Involvement of Rad51 in cytotoxicity induced by epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor (gefitinib, IressaR) and chemotherapeutic agents in human lung cancer cells.
Gefitinib (Iressa(R), ZD1839) is a selective epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor that blocks growth factor-mediated cell proliferation and extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) signaling activation. Rad51 is an essential component of the homologous recombination repair pathway. High level of Rad51 expression has been reported in chemo- or radioresistant carcinomas. We hypothesized that gefitinib may enhance the effects of the alkylating agent cisplatin- or the antitumor antibiotic mitomycin C (MMC)-mediated cytotoxicity by decreasing ERK1/2 activation and Rad51 expression. Exposure of human non-small lung cancer cells to gefitinib decreased cisplatin- or MMC-elicited ERK1/2 activation and Rad51 protein induction. Neither cisplatin nor MMC treatment affected Rad51 messenger RNA (mRNA). However, gefitinib cotreatment with cisplatin or MMC significantly decreased Rad51 mRNA levels. In addition, gefitinib decreased cisplatin- or MMC-elicited Rad51 protein levels by increasing Rad51 protein instability. Enhancement of ERK1/2 signaling by constitutively active mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1/2 (MKK1/2-CA) increased Rad51 protein levels and protein stability in gefitinib and cisplatin or MMC cotreated cells. Moreover, the synergistic cytotoxic effects induced by gefitinib cotreatment with cisplatin or MMC were remarkably decreased by MKK1-CA-mediated enhancement of ERK1/2 activation. Depletion of endogenous Rad51 expression by si-Rad51 RNA transfection significantly enhanced lung cancer cell death upon treatment with cisplatin or MMC. We conclude that Rad51 protein protects lung cancer cells from synergistic cytotoxic effects induced by gefitinib and chemotherapeutic agents. Suppression of Rad51 expression may be a novel lung cancer therapeutic modality to overcome drug resistance to EGFR inhibitors and chemotherapeutic agents.
Department of Internal Medicine, Hsinchu Hospital, Department of Health, The Executive Yuan, Taiwan.
Jen-Chung
JC
Ko
Shih-Ci
SC
Ciou
Chau-Ming
CM
Cheng
Lyu-Han
LH
Wang
Jhao-Hao
JH
Hong
Ming-Yan
MY
Jheng
Szu-Ting
ST
Ling
Yun-Wei
YW
Lin
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000494:pharmacology; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D004357:Drug Synergism; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D000077156:Gefitinib; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D048369:MAP Kinase Kinase 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D010766:Phosphorylation; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051135:Rad51 Recombinase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014162:Transfection
D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011799:Quinazolines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016685:Mitomycin; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D048369:MAP Kinase Kinase 1; C495153:RAD51 protein, human; D051135:Rad51 Recombinase; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; C061553:ATP dependent 26S protease; D002945:Cisplatin; D000077156:Gefitinib