MDM2 inhibitor MI-319 in combination with cisplatin is an effective treatment for pancreatic cancer independent of p53 function.
Small molecule inhibitors (SMIs) of murine double minute 2 (MDM2) are known to restore the apoptotic and cell cycle regulatory functions of p53 by disrupting the MDM2-p53 interaction. In principle, these SMIs are not effective against tumours with mutation in the tumour suppressor p53 (mut-p53), which is known to be present in approximately 50% of all cancers. In this study we are reporting, for the first time, that MI-319 in combination with cisplatin induced cell growth inhibition and apoptosis in pancreatic cancer (PC) cells irrespective of their p53 mutational status. MI-319-cisplatin combination synergistically suppressed cell growth (MTT Combination Index [CI]<1) and colony formation (clonogenic assay) and induced apoptosis. Western blot analysis and siRNA silencing studies in mutant as well as p53 null cells highlighted a mechanism involving p73 which is also known to be under the regulation of MDM2, and unlike p53, it is rarely mutated in PC. Down-regulating MDM2 using siRNA enhanced p73 reactivation and increased cell death. Further, the combination effectively reduced tumour growth in both wt-p53 and mut-p53 tumour xenograft models (50% Capan-2 animals were tumour free). Consistent with our in vitro results, remnant tumour tissue analysis showed up-regulation of p73 and the cell cycle regulator p21. In conclusion, this study highlights a new role of MDM2 inhibitors in combination with cisplatin, and thus warrants further clinical investigation in human pancreatic tumours containing both wt-p53 and mut-p53.
Department of Pathology, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States.
Asfar S
AS
Azmi
Amro
A
Aboukameel
Sanjeev
S
Banerjee
Zhiwei
Z
Wang
Momin
M
Mohammad
Jack
J
Wu
Shaomeng
S
Wang
Dajun
D
Yang
Philip A
PA
Philip
Fazlul H
FH
Sarkar
Ramzi M
RM
Mohammad
D000818:Animals; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051736:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000494:pharmacology; D013141:Spiro Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000072160:Tumor Protein p73; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics
D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D007211:Indoles; C548961:MI 319; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D013141:Spiro Compounds; C000606460:TP73 protein, human; C000606368:Trp73 protein, mouse; D000072160:Tumor Protein p73; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; C497206:MDM2 protein, human; D051736:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2; D002945:Cisplatin