PNAS-4, a novel pro-apoptotic gene, can potentiate antineoplastic effects of cisplatin.
OBJECTIVE
PNAS-4, a novel pro-apoptotic gene activated during the early response to DNA damage, can inhibit proliferation via apoptosis when overexpressed in some tumor cells. The objectives of this study were to determine whether PNAS-4 could enhance apoptosis induced by cisplatin besides its induction of apoptosis, and to evaluate the usefulness of combined treatment with mouse PNAS-4 (mPNAS-4) gene therapy and low-dose cisplatin chemotherapy in the inhibition of tumor growth in colon carcinoma (CT26) and Lewis lung carcinoma (LL/2) murine models.


METHODS
In this study, the in vitro growth-inhibitory and pro-apoptotic effects of PNAS-4 and/or cisplatin on CT26, LL/2, and SKOV3 cancer cells were assessed by MTT assay, flow cytometric analysis, DNA fragmentation, and morphological analysis, respectively. The in vivo antitumor activity of combined treatment with mPNAS-4 gene therapy and low-dose cisplatin were evaluated in the inhibition of tumor growth in colon carcinoma (CT26) and Lewis lung carcinoma (LL/2) murine models. Tumor volume and survival time were observed. Induction of apoptosis was also assessed in tumor tissues.


RESULTS
In vitro, PNAS-4 inhibited proliferation of colon carcinoma (CT26), Lewis lung carcinoma (LL/2) and human ovarian cancer (SKOV3) cell lines via apoptosis, and significantly enhanced the apoptosis of CT26, LL/2, and SKOV3 cells induced by cisplatin. In vivo systemic administration of expression plasmid encoding mPNAS-4 (pcDNA3.1-mPS) and cisplatin, significantly decreased tumor growth through increased tumor cell apoptosis compared to treatment with mPNAS-4 or cisplatin alone.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggests that the combined treatment with mPNAS-4 plus cisplatin may augment the induction of apoptosis in tumor cells in vitro and in vivo, and that the augmented antitumor activity in vivo may result from the increased induction of apoptosis. The present study may provide a novel way to augment the antitumor efficacy of cytotoxic chemotherapy.
Yuan
Zhu
Z
State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, 1# Keyuan Road 4, Gaopeng Street, High Technological Development Zone 610041, Chengdu, China.
Yan
Fei
F
Wang
Yong-sheng
YS
Liu
Huan-yi
HY
Gou
Lan-tu
LT
Zhao
Xin-yu
XY
Lai
Song-tao
ST
Deng
Hong-xin
HX
Li
Jiong
J
Ding
Zhen-yu
ZY
Xiong
Shao-qun
SQ
Kan
Bing
B
Mao
Yong-qiu
YQ
Chen
Li-juan
LJ
Wei
Yu-quan
YQ
Zhao
Xia
X
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D018827:Carcinoma, Lewis Lung / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C541601:PNAS4 protein, mouse; D002945:Cisplatin