Enhancement of cisplatin sensitivity by NSC109268 in budding yeast and human cancer cells is associated with inhibition of S-phase progression.
OBJECTIVE
NSC109268 has been described previously as inhibitor of proteasomal degradation and of phosphatase 2Calpha. In a yeast screen, we isolated NSC109268 as an agent altering sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents. We found that NSC109268 and the related compound NSC109272 enhance cellular sensitivity to cis- and transplatin but reduce sensitivity to nitrogen mustard. We explored if similar effects could be found in human cancer cells and if cell cycle analysis could hint at the underlying molecular mechanism.


METHODS
Haploid yeast cells were treated in suspension with platinum agents and nitrogen mustard alone or in combination with NSC compounds, and survival was measured by colony-formation assays. Sensitivity of ovarian and prostate cancer cells toward these treatments was evaluated using the MTS assay. Cell cycle progression was determined by flow cytometry.


RESULTS
The enhancement of cisplatin sensitivity by NSC109268 found in yeast was confirmed in cisplatin-sensitive and cisplatin-resistant human ovarian cancer lines and in prostate cancer cells. In yeast and in human carcinoma cells, a correlation of enhanced sensitivity with delaying S-phase progression was revealed.


CONCLUSIONS
The known activities of NSC109268 as proteasome or phosphatase inhibitor could explain the phenotype of S-phase delay by assuming a higher initial DNA damage load, inhibition of DNA translesion synthesis or extended checkpoint arrest.
Jain
Dilip
D
Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA.
Patel
Nila
N
Shelton
Melanie
M
Basu
Alakananda
A
Roque
Rouel
R
Siede
Wolfram
W
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D056831:Coordination Complexes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000187:drug effects; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006238:Haploidy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D010641:Phenotype; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016196:S Phase / Q000187:drug effects; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D056831:Coordination Complexes; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; C551925:NSC 109268; D002945:Cisplatin