title: RNAi screening identifies TAK1 as a potential target for the enhanced efficacy of topoisomerase inhibitors.
abstract: In an effort to develop strategies that improve the efficacy of existing anticancer agents, we have conducted a siRNA-based RNAi screen to identify genes that, when targeted by siRNA, improve the activity of the topoisomerase I (Top1) poison camptothecin (CPT). Screening was conducted using a set of siRNAs corresponding to over 400 apoptosisrelated genes in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. During the course of these studies, we identified the silencing of MAP3K7 as a significant enhancer of CPT activity. Follow-up analysis of caspase activity and caspase-dependent phosphorylation of histone H2AX demonstrated that the silencing of MAP3K7 enhanced CPT-associated apoptosis. Silencing MAP3K7 also sensitized cells to additional compounds, including CPT clinical analogs. This activity was not restricted to MDA-MB-231 cells, as the silencing of MAP3K7 also sensitized the breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-468 and HCT-116 colon cancer cells. However, MAP3K7 silencing did not affect compound activity in the comparatively normal mammary epithelial cell line MCF10A, as well as some additional tumorigenic lines. MAP3K7 encodes the TAK1 kinase, an enzyme that is central to the regulation of many processes associated with the growth of cancer cells (e.g. NF- κB, JNK, and p38 signaling). An analysis of TAK1 signaling pathway members revealed that the silencing of TAB2 also sensitizes MDA-MB-231 and HCT-116 cells towards CPT. These findings may offer avenues towards lowering the effective doses of Top1 inhibitors in cancer cells and, in doing so, broaden their application.
authors.affiliation: Gene Silencing Section, Genetics Branch, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Z-H
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gehlhaus
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Y-W
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guha
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miyamoto
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pommier
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Caplen
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000494:pharmacology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D020930:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D059003:Topoisomerase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000099151:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 7
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D002166:Camptothecin; D020930:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D059003:Topoisomerase Inhibitors; D000099151:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 7; C410585:TAB2 protein, human