title: Synergistic effects of nelfinavir and bortezomib on proteotoxic death of NSCLC and multiple myeloma cells.
abstract: Exploiting protein homeostasis is a new therapeutic approach in cancer. Nelfinavir (NFV) is an HIV protease inhibitor that induces endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in cancer cells. Under conditions of ER stress, misfolded proteins are transported from the ER back to the cytosol for subsequent degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Bortezomib (BZ) is a proteasome inhibitor and interferes with degradation of misfolded proteins. Here, we show that NFV and BZ enhance proteotoxicity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and multiple myeloma (MM) cells. The combination synergistically inhibited cell proliferation and induced cell death. Activating transcription factor (ATF)3 and CCAAT-enhancer binding protein homologous protein (CHOP), markers of ER stress, were rapidly increased, and their siRNA-mediated knockdown inhibited cell death. Knockdown of double-stranded RNA activated protein kinase-like ER kinase, a signal transducer in ER stress, significantly decreased apoptosis. Pretreatment with the protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide, decreased levels of ubiquitinated proteins, ATF3, CHOP, and the overall total cell death, suggesting that inhibition of protein synthesis increases cell survival by relieving proteotoxic stress. The NFV/BZ combination inhibited the growth of NSCLC xenografts, which correlated with the induction of markers of ER stress and apoptosis. Collectively, these data show that NFV and BZ enhance proteotoxicity in NSCLC and MM cells, and suggest that this combination could tip the precarious balance of protein homeostasis in cancer cells for therapeutic gain.
authors: Medical Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Kawabata
authors: J J
authors: JJ
authors: Gills
authors: J R
authors: JR
authors: Mercado-Matos
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Lopiccolo
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Wilson
authors: M C
authors: MC
authors: Hollander
authors: P A
authors: PA
authors: Dennis
mesh_terms: D051700:Activating Transcription Factor 3 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001897:Boronic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity*; D000069286:Bortezomib; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004357:Drug Synergism; D059865:Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019888:Nelfinavir / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity*; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity*; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity*; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000378:metabolism; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous
chemical_list: C490449:ATF3 protein, human; D051700:Activating Transcription Factor 3; D001897:Boronic Acids; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D011719:Pyrazines; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D000069286:Bortezomib; D020169:Caspases; D019888:Nelfinavir