title: Different Cell Cycle Modulation in SKOV-3 Ovarian Cancer Cell Line by Anti-HIV Drugs.
abstract: Antiretroviral drugs used for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have proven to be effective even against cancer. Drawing from this background, the aim of our research project was to evaluate the effects of anti-HIV drugs that belong to the nucleoside and nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor [NRTI; abacavir (ABC) and tenofovir (TDF)], nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor [NNRTI; efavirenz (EFV) and etravirine (ETR)], and protease inhibitor [PI; darunavir (DRV)] categories on ovarian adenocarcinoma cell line SKOV-3. Using FACS analysis, we observed that treatment with NRTIs and NNRTIs showed a block in the G0/G1 phase. In particular, ETR displayed a relevant block in the progression of the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle compared with the other examined drugs, and it also induced differentiation of SKOV-3 cells. In contrast, FACS analysis demonstrated that ABC and the PI inhibitor DRV showed no effect on the proliferation of cancer cells. DAPI (4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) staining demonstrated that cells treated with NNRTIs (EFV and ETR) presented more DNA damage compared with other treatments. Immunoblotting analysis demonstrated that TDF, EFV, and ETR were able to obtain a reduction in the expression of cyclin D1 and Rb hypophosphorylation, and an increase in p21 concentration. Finally, we observed that ETR also induced differentiation, as demonstrated by Western blot, with high levels of E-cadherin expression. Therefore, our study provides additional evidence supporting the in vitro cytotoxic effects of ETR and EFV. Furthermore, it promotes the hypothesis for their potential use as therapeutic agents in ovarian cancer.
authors.forename: Angelica
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perna
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lucariello
authors.forename: Carmine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sellitto
authors.forename: Iolanda
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Agliata
authors.forename: Maria Aurora
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Carleo
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sangiovanni
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.forename: Germano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cobellis
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Luca
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors