title: Improved apoptotic cell death in drug-resistant non-small-cell lung cancer cells by tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand-based treatment.
abstract: Since response to platinum-based therapy in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is poor, the present study was designed to rationally identify novel drug combinations in cell models including the A549 cell line and the cisplatin-resistant subline A549/Pt, characterized by reduced sensitivity to cisplatin-induced apoptosis and by upregulation of efflux transporters of the ATP binding cassette (ABC) superfamily. Given the molecular features of these cells, we focused on compounds triggering apoptosis through different mechanisms, such as the mitochondria-targeting drug arsenic trioxide and the phenanthridine analog sanguinarine, which induce apoptosis through the extrinsic pathway. Sanguinarine, not recognized by ABC transporters, could overcome cisplatin resistance and, when used in combination with arsenic trioxide, was synergistic in A549 and A549/Pt cells. The arsenic trioxide/sanguinarine cotreatment upregulated genes implicated in apoptosis activation through the extrinsic pathway. Drug combination experiments indicated that tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) treatment improved arsenic trioxide/sanguinarine efficacy, a feature associated with a striking apoptosis induction, particularly in the cisplatin-resistant variant. Thus, a synergistic interaction between sanguinarine and arsenic trioxide could be obtained independent of relative cell sensitivity to arsenic trioxide, and an enhanced apoptosis induction could be achieved in combination with TRAIL through modulation of the extrinsic apoptotic pathway. Antitumor activity studies supported the interest of drug combinations including TRAIL in NSCLC, indicating that drug-resistant NSCLC cells can efficiently be killed by the combination of proapoptotic agents. Our results suggest that the molecular changes occurring in treated cells may be exploited to rationally hit surviving cells.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Pharmacology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gatti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cossa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tinelli
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Carenini
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arrighetti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pennati
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cominetti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Cesare
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zunino
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zaffaroni
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Perego
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D000077237:Arsenic Trioxide; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053119:Benzophenanthridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004249:DNA Damage; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D004357:Drug Synergism; D006801:Humans; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010087:Oxides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053220:Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / Q000378:metabolism; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001152:Arsenicals; D053119:Benzophenanthridines; D007546:Isoquinolines; D010087:Oxides; D053220:Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; C005705:sanguinarine; D002945:Cisplatin; D000077237:Arsenic Trioxide