Combined targeting of histone deacetylases and hedgehog signaling enhances cytoxicity in pancreatic cancer.
Combined targeting of distinct cellular signaling mechanisms may improve the efficacy and reduce the toxicity of therapy in pancreatic cancer. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) control cellular functions through epigenetic modulation, and HDACs inhibitors suppress cell growth in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The Hedgehog (Hh) pathway regulates the development of the pancreas, and aberrant Hh signaling promotes the initiation and progression of pancreatic neoplasia. We hypothesize that HDACs and the Hh pathway cooperatively interact to regulate cellular proliferation of the exocrine pancreas. A combination of the HDAC inhibitor SAHA and the Smoothened antagonist SANT-1 was evaluated for their ability to suppress growth of the Gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell lines Panc-1 and BxPC-3. The combination of SAHA and SANT-1 supra-additively suppressed cellular proliferation and colony formation. Flow cytometric and immunohistochemical analyses indicated that enhanced induction of apoptotic cell death, cell cycle arrest in G(0)/G(1) phase, and ductal epithelial differentiation are involved. Cell death was associated with nuclear localization of survivin, increased bax expression, and activation of caspases 3 and 7. Consistent with the cell cycle arrest and cytodifferentiation, the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p21(waf) and p27(kip1) were upregulated, and cyclin D1 downregulated. The potentiated anti-proliferative effect by the combination of SAHA and SANT-1 may involve cooperative suppression of the Hh pathway activity, as shown by the upregulation of HHIP by SAHA, and enhanced repression of of Ptc-1 mRNA expression. In summary, we have developed a molecular target-based therapeutic approach that overcomes chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer cells by chemically inhibiting HDACs and Hh signaling in combination.
Division of Hematology, Oncology and Blood & Marrow Transplantation, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
Stephen G
SG
Chun
Weiqiang
W
Zhou
Nelson S
NS
Yee
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000494:pharmacology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000187:drug effects; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology; D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006877:Hydroxamic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D014410:Tumor Stem Cell Assay; D000077337:Vorinostat; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; D006877:Hydroxamic Acids; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D010879:Piperazines; D011720:Pyrazoles; C468919:SANT-1 compound; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000077337:Vorinostat; D000093542:Gemcitabine