title: EM011 activates a survivin-dependent apoptotic program in human non-small cell lung cancer cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer death among both men and women in the United States. Treatment modalities available for this malignancy are inadequate and thus new drugs with improved pharmacological profiles and superior therapeutic indices are being continually explored. Noscapinoids constitute an emerging class of anticancer agents that bind tubulin but do not significantly alter the monomer/polymer ratio of tubulin. EM011, a rationally-designed member of this class of non-toxic agents, is more potent than the lead molecule, noscapine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Here we report that EM011 inhibited proliferation of a comprehensive panel of lung cancer cells with IC(50)'s ranging from 4-50 microM. In A549 human non-small cell lung cancer cells, the antiproliferative activity was mediated through blockage of cell-cycle progression by induction of a transient but robust mitotic arrest accompanied by activation of the spindle assembly checkpoint. The mitotically-arrested A549 cells then override the activated mitotic checkpoint and aberrantly exit mitosis without cytokinesis resulting in pseudo G1-like multinucleated cells that either succumb directly to apoptosis or continue another round of the cell-cycle. The accumulated enormous DNA perhaps acts as genotoxic stress to trigger cell death. EM011-induced apoptotic cell death in A549 cells was associated with a decrease of the Bcl2/BAX ratio, activation of caspase-3 and cleavage of PARP. Furthermore, EM011 induced downregulation of survivin expression over time of treatment. Abrogation of survivin led to an increase of cell death whereas, overexpression caused decreased apoptosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These in vitro data suggest that EM011 mediates antiproliferative and proapoptotic activity in non-small cell A549 lung cancer cells by impeding cell-cycle progression and attenuating antiapoptotic signaling circuitries (viz. Bcl2, survivin). The study provides evidence for the potential usefulness of EM011 in chemotherapy of lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA-30303, USA. pkarna@gsu.edu
authors.forename: Prasanthi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Karna
authors.forename: Starlette M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.forename: Clayton
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yates
authors.forename: Satya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Prakash
authors.forename: Ritu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aneja
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D004149:Dioxoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D016195:G2 Phase / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008938:Mitosis / Q000187:drug effects; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000378:metabolism; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000077022:Survivin; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C107489:BIRC5 protein, human; D004149:Dioxoles; C510553:EM011 compound; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D007546:Isoquinolines; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D000077022:Survivin; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; D053148:Caspase 3