title: Quercetin enhances 5-fluorouracil-induced apoptosis in MSI colorectal cancer cells through p53 modulation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Colorectal tumors (CRC) with microsatellite instability (MSI) show resistance to chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), the most widely used pharmacological drug for CRC treatment. The aims of this study were to test the ability of quercetin (Q) and luteolin (L) to increase the sensitivity of MSI CRC cells to 5-FU and characterize the dependence of the effects on cells' p53 status.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two MSI human CRC-derived cell lines were used: CO115 wild type (wt) for p53 and HCT15 that harbors a p53 mutation. Apoptosis induction in these cells by 5-FU, Q and L alone, and in combinations was evaluated by TUNEL and western blot. The dependence of the effects on p53 was confirmed by small interference RNA (siRNA) in CO115 cells and in MSI HCT116 wt and p53 knockout cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CO115 p53-wt cells are more sensitive to 5-FU than the p53-mutated HCT15. The combination treatment of 5-FU with L and Q increased apoptosis with a significant effect for Q in CO115. Both flavonoids increased p53 expression in both cell lines, an effect particularly remarkable for Q. The significant apoptotic enhancement in CO115 incubated with Q plus 5-FU involved the activation of the apoptotic mitochondrial pathway. Importantly, knockdown of p53 by siRNA in CO115 cells and p53 knockout in HCT116 cells totally abrogated apoptosis induction, demonstrating the dependence of the effect on p53 modulation by Q.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests the potential applicability of these phytochemicals for enhancement 5-FU efficiency in MSI CRC therapy, especially Q in p53 wt tumors.
authors.affiliation: CBMA-Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, School of Sciences, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Cristina P R
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Xavier
authors.forename: Cristovao F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Mikkel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rohde
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pereira-Wilson
mesh_terms: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D020169:Caspases / Q000502:physiology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D047311:Luteolin / Q000494:pharmacology; D011794:Quercetin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D011794:Quercetin; D020169:Caspases; D047311:Luteolin; D005472:Fluorouracil