title: Inhibition of Bcl-2 and Bcl-X enhances chemotherapy sensitivity in hepatoblastoma cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An increased expression of anti-apoptotic proteins is regularly found in malignant cells, contributing to their clonal expansion by conferring an improved survival ability. In Hepatoblastoma (HB) apoptosis regulation contributes to resistance and therapy failure, therefore we modulated apoptosis sensitivity of HB cells for an improved cytotoxic activity of commonly used drugs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Apoptosis-related proteins were quantified in HB cells (HuH6 and HepT1) using protein assays. Interaction of ABT-737, a small-molecule inhibitor of Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and Bcl-W with cytotoxic drugs was monitored in a proliferation assay. Apoptosis induction was measured by caspase-3 activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found high levels of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and Bcl-X as well as low levels of pro-apoptotic protein Bax and Bad in both HB cell lines. ABT-737 induced apoptosis in HuH6 and HepT1 cells at concentrations higher than 1 µM. ABT-737 also enhanced the cytotoxic effect of cisplatin (CDDP), doxorubicin (DOXO), etoposide and paclitaxel when used as combination therapy. HuH6 expressed slightly higher pro-apoptotic and lower anti-apoptotic protein levels than HepT1, which may explain the stronger enhancement of cytostatic drug effects in HuH6 cells when treated in combination with ABT-737.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The observed anti-apoptotic phenotype in HB cell lines may contribute to resistance to cytotoxic drugs used in the standard treatment protocol of HB. These pre-clinical results suggest that apoptosis sensitizers with BH-3 mimicry, such as ABT-737, should be further evaluated in preclinical models of HB.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Children's Hospital, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Justus
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lieber
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kirchner
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eicher
authors.forename: Steven W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Warmann
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Seitz
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.forename: Sorin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Armeanu-Ebinger
mesh_terms: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000494:pharmacology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000494:pharmacology; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D018197:Hepatoblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009596:Nitrophenols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051020:bcl-X Protein / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C501332:ABT-737; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D009596:Nitrophenols; D010879:Piperazines; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D013449:Sulfonamides; D051020:bcl-X Protein; D004317:Doxorubicin; D002945:Cisplatin