Bortezomib sensitizes human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis via activation of both extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis pathways.
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most aggressive human cancers, and novel treatment modalities are required. We investigated the therapeutic potential of the tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL/Apo2L) in combination with the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib (Velcade) on human ESCC cell lines. Bortezomib enhanced the susceptibility to TRAIL in 12 of the 15 ESCC cell lines tested, although most showed low sensitivity to TRAIL as a single agent. The enhancement of TRAIL-induced apoptosis by bortezomib was caspase dependent. Increased processing of caspase-8 often accompanied enhancement of TRAIL-induced apoptosis by bortezomib. However, the increased cell surface expression of death receptors observed on bortezomib treatment did not seem to be crucial for this effect. For some ESCC, bortezomib treatment resulted in a more efficient recruitment of caspase-8 and the Fas-associated death domain to the death-inducing signaling complex. Additional downregulation of the cellular FLICE-inhibitory protein long isoform [c-FLIP(L)] could cooperate in the activation of the extrinsic pathway in some cases. For other ESCC, the crucial effect of bortezomib treatment seemed to be increased signaling via the intrinsic apoptotic pathway on subsequent exposure to TRAIL. Thus, bortezomib could sensitize ESCC to TRAIL apoptosis by multiple molecular mechanisms of action. Therefore, the combination of bortezomib and TRAIL might be a novel therapeutic strategy for ESCC patients who fail to respond to standard chemoradiotherapy that predominantly targets the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway.
Research Center for Innovative Cancer Therapy, Kurume University, Asahi-machi, Kurume, Japan. seki_naoko@kurume-u.ac.jp
Naoko
N
Seki
Uhi
U
Toh
Thomas J
TJ
Sayers
Teruhiko
T
Fujii
Motoshi
M
Miyagi
Yoshito
Y
Akagi
Jingo
J
Kusukawa
Masayoshi
M
Kage
Kazuo
K
Shirouzu
Hideaki
H
Yamana
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001897:Boronic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000069286:Bortezomib; D053446:CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D053418:Death Domain Receptor Signaling Adaptor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000187:drug effects*; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053220:Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects
D001897:Boronic Acids; D053446:CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein; D053418:Death Domain Receptor Signaling Adaptor Proteins; D011719:Pyrazines; D053220:Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; D000069286:Bortezomib; D020169:Caspases