title: Oxaliplatin-mediated inhibition of survivin increases sensitivity of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines to paclitaxel.
abstract: The present study deals with the evaluation of the efficacy of oxaliplatin and paclitaxel combination as a potential strategy in controlling HNSCC cell proliferation and the assessment of correlation between occurrence of apoptosis and changes in expression of survivin (IAP). The panel cell lines included two HNSCC cell lines (Cal27 and NT8e) and one normal cell line (293) with differential level of survivin expression in accordance with chemosensitivity. The cytotoxicity and effect of drugs on apoptosis was determined, separately and in combination. Combined treatment of cells with paclitaxel and oxaliplatin resulted in significantly higher cytotoxicity as compared to individual single drug treatment. Cytotoxicity was prominent in paclitaxel to oxaliplatin (pacl-oxal) sequence treatment with an approximate two-fold increase in apoptosis as compared to oxaliplatin to paclitaxel (oxal-pacl) sequence treatment. Paclitaxel treatment also caused increased survivin expression showing reduced apoptosis at low concentration. Oxaliplatin, when combined with paclitaxel, decreased the survivin level with increased cell death. Inhibition of survivin by a small interfering RNA (siRNA) method also increased the sensitivity of the cancer cell lines to paclitaxel whereas over-expression of survivin in the transfected 293-cell line provided resistance. In conclusion, the interaction between drugs was synergistic and schedule-dependent. Survivin played a critical role in paclitaxel resistance through the suppression of apoptosis, and a significant induction of apoptosis was observed when oxaliplatin was combined with paclitaxel at least in part by the down-regulation of survivin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Madhav Institute of Technology and Science, Gwalior 474005, India.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Varma
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Tiwari
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mouhamad
authors.forename: G B K S
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Prasad
authors.forename: P  S
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bisen
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D004357:Drug Synergism; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D020868:Gene Silencing; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D000077022:Survivin
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C107489:BIRC5 protein, human; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D000077022:Survivin; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel