Induction of apoptosis in RL95-2 human endometrial cancer cells by combination treatment with docosahexaenoic acid and triacsin C

IntroductionDocosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation has been reported to negatively correlate with cancer cell proliferation and tumour development in many cancer types. Although cumulative evidence has demonstrated the apoptotic effect and cytotoxicity of DHA against tumour development in many cell types, the precise cellular and biochemical mechanisms of DHA-induced apoptosis in human endometrial cancer cells have not been investigated.Material and methodsMTT assay was performed to confirm the degree of apoptosis by combining treatment with DHA and triacsin C in endometrial cancer cell line. The synergistic effects of triacsin C and DHA were identified by performing flowcytometry and immunoblotting analysis.ResultsCombined treatment with DHA and triacsin C significantly induced apoptosis in RL95-2 endometrial carcinoma cells. Combined treatment with 125 μM DHA and 5 μM triacsin C significantly increased the sub-G1 population and apoptotic fragments in endometrial carcinoma cells. It was also demonstrated that DHA and triacsin C induced apoptosis through mitochondrial pathways via caspases-9, -3, and -7 as well as through the extrinsic pathway by activation of caspase-8/BID.ConclusionsFurther elucidation of the apoptotic mechanisms involving DHA treatment with ACS ablation could shed light on possible new treatment strategies for endometrial cancer. In addition, further research into the mechanisms of DHA and triacsin C-induced apoptotic mechanisms may lead to the development of therapeutic strategies for endometrial cancer.

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Tamoxifen Represses miR-200 MicroRNAs and Promotes Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition by Up-Regulating c-Myc in Endometrial Carcinoma Cell Lines

Endocrinology ◽

10.1210/en.2012-1607 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 154 (2) ◽

pp. 635-645 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

Jiu-Xu Bai ◽

Bo Yan ◽

Zhi-Ning Zhao ◽

Xiao Xiao ◽

Wei-Wei Qin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Endometrial Cancer ◽

Endometrial Carcinoma ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Cancer Cell ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Cancer Cell Lines ◽

Endometrial Cancer Cell ◽

Mesenchymal Transition ◽

Wide Range

Although tamoxifen (TAM), a selective estrogen receptor modulator, has been widely used in the treatment of hormone-responsive breast cancer, its estrogen-like effect increases the risk of endometrial cancer. However, the molecular mechanisms of TAM-induced endometrial carcinoma still remain unclear. In this report, we explored the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in TAM-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in ECC-1 and Ishikawa endometrial cancer cell lines and found miR-200 is involved in this process via the regulation of c-Myc. When treated with TAM, ECC-1 and Ishikawa cells were characterized by higher invasiveness and motility and underwent EMT. miR-200, a miRNA family with tumor suppressive functions in a wide range of cancers, was found reduced in response to TAM treatment. Consistent with zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 2, which was confirmed as a direct target of miR-200b in endometrial cancer cell lines, some other key factors of EMT such as Snail and N-cadherin increased, whereas E-cadherin decreased in the TAM-treated cells, contributing to TAM-induced EMT in these endometrial cancer cells. In addition, we showed that c-Myc directly binds to and represses the promoter of miR-200 miRNAs, and its up-regulation in TAM-treated endometrial cancer cells leads to the down-regulation of miR-200 and eventually to EMT. Collectively, our data suggest that TAM can repress the miR-200 family and induce EMT via the up-regulation of c-Myc in endometrial cancer cells. These findings describe a possible mechanism of TAM-induced EMT in endometrial cancer and provide a potential new therapeutic strategy for it.

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Hispidulin Enhances TRAIL-Mediated Apoptosis via CaMKKβ/AMPK/USP51 Axis-Mediated Bim Stabilization

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers11121960 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (12) ◽

pp. 1960 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Seon Min Woo ◽

Seung Un Seo ◽

Sang Hyun Kim ◽

Ju-Ock Nam ◽

Shin Kim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cancer Cells ◽

Mesangial Cells ◽

Critical Role ◽

Combined Treatment ◽

Carcinoma Cells ◽

Human Skin Fibroblast ◽

Human Carcinoma ◽

Anti Cancer ◽

Xenograft Models ◽

Induced Apoptosis

Hispidulin, a natural compound present in herbs, has anti-cancer effects. Here, we investigated whether hispidulin sensitizes human carcinoma cells to apoptosis induced by TRAIL. Sub-lethal dosages of TRAIL alone and hispidulin alone does not increase apoptosis, but hispidulin increases sensitivity to TRAIL, resulting in induction of apoptosis in hispidulin plus TRAIL-treated cancer cells. In addition, combined treatment with hispidulin and TRAIL also reduced tumor growth and increased apoptosis in xenograft models. However, hispidulin did not alter cell viability in human renal normal mesangial cells and human skin fibroblast. Hispidulin markedly increased the BH3-only proteins Bim at the post-translational levels. Depletion of Bim with siRNA significantly blocked hispidulin plus TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, we found that activation of AMPK by hispidulin has a crucial role in Bim proteins stability through up-regulation of USP51 expression. Our findings suggest that USP51-dependent stabilization of Bim by AMPK activation plays a critical role in hispidulin-mediated sensitization of cancer cells to apoptosis induced by TRAIL.

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Cytotoxicity, Oxidative Stress, Cell Cycle Arrest, and Mitochondrial Apoptosis after Combined Treatment of Hepatocarcinoma Cells with Maleic Anhydride Derivatives and Quercetin

Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity ◽

10.1155/2017/2734976 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2017 ◽

pp. 1-16 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Gabriela Carrasco-Torres ◽

Rafael Baltiérrez-Hoyos ◽

Erik Andrade-Jorge ◽

Saúl Villa-Treviño ◽

José Guadalupe Trujillo-Ferrara ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽

Cell Cycle ◽

Maleic Anhydride ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Combination Treatment ◽

Malignant Tumors ◽

Combined Treatment ◽

Current Data ◽

Carcinoma Cells ◽

Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

The inflammatory condition of malignant tumors continually exposes cancer cells to reactive oxygen species, an oxidizing condition that leads to the activation of the antioxidant defense system. A similar activation occurs with glutathione production. This oxidant condition enables tumor cells to maintain the energy required for growth, proliferation, and evasion of cell death. The objective of the present study was to determine the effect on hepatocellular carcinoma cells of a combination treatment with maleic anhydride derivatives (prooxidants) and quercetin (an antioxidant). The results show that the combination of a prooxidant/antioxidant had a cytotoxic effect on HuH7 and HepG2 liver cancer cells, but not on either of two normal human epithelial cell lines or on primary hepatocytes. The combination treatment triggered apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells by activating the intrinsic pathway and causing S phase arrest during cell cycle progression. There is also clear evidence of a modification in cytoskeletal actin and nucleus morphology at 24 and 48 h posttreatment. Thus, the current data suggest that the combination of two anticarcinogenic drugs, a prooxidant followed by an antioxidant, can be further explored for antitumor potential as a new treatment strategy.

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Differential Effects of Combined ATR/WEE1 Inhibition in Cancer Cells

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers13153790 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (15) ◽

pp. 3790

Author(s):

Gro Elise Rødland ◽

Sissel Hauge ◽

Grete Hasvold ◽

Lilli T. E. Bay ◽

Tine T. H. Raabe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lung Cancer ◽

Cell Viability ◽

Cancer Treatment ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Cancer Cell ◽

Combined Treatment ◽

Cancer Cell Lines ◽

Variable Extent ◽

Synergistic Induction

Inhibitors of WEE1 and ATR kinases are considered promising for cancer treatment, either as monotherapy or in combination with chemo- or radiotherapy. Here, we addressed whether simultaneous inhibition of WEE1 and ATR might be advantageous. Effects of the WEE1 inhibitor MK1775 and ATR inhibitor VE822 were investigated in U2OS osteosarcoma cells and in four lung cancer cell lines, H460, A549, H1975, and SW900, with different sensitivities to the WEE1 inhibitor. Despite the differences in cytotoxic effects, the WEE1 inhibitor reduced the inhibitory phosphorylation of CDK, leading to increased CDK activity accompanied by ATR activation in all cell lines. However, combining ATR inhibition with WEE1 inhibition could not fully compensate for cell resistance to the WEE1 inhibitor and reduced cell viability to a variable extent. The decreased cell viability upon the combined treatment correlated with a synergistic induction of DNA damage in S-phase in U2OS cells but not in the lung cancer cells. Moreover, less synergy was found between ATR and WEE1 inhibitors upon co-treatment with radiation, suggesting that single inhibitors may be preferable together with radiotherapy. Altogether, our results support that combining WEE1 and ATR inhibitors may be beneficial for cancer treatment in some cases, but also highlight that the effects vary between cancer cell lines.

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The role of hypoxia in endometrial cancer

Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology ◽

10.2174/1389201022666210224130022 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 ◽

Author(s):

Yarely M. Salinas-Vera ◽

Dolores Gallardo-Rincón ◽

Erika Ruíz-García ◽

Macrina B. Silva-Cázares ◽

Carmen Sol de la Peña-Cruz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Endometrial Cancer ◽

Cell Survival ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Cancer Cell ◽

Targeted Therapies ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Vasculogenic Mimicry ◽

Cellular Processes ◽

Corpus Uteri

: Endometrial cancer represents the most frequent neoplasia from the corpus uteri, and comprises the 14th leading cause of death in women worldwide. Risk factors that contribute to the disease include early menarche, late menopause, nulliparity, and menopausal hormone use, as well as hypertension and obesity comorbidities. The clinical effectiveness of chemotherapy is variable, suggesting that novel molecular targeted therapies against specific cellular processes associated with the maintenance of cancer cell survival and therapy resistance urged to ameliorate the rates of success in endometrial cancer treatment. In the course of tumor growth, cancer cells must adapt to decreased oxygen availability in the microenvironment by upregulation of hypoxia-inducible factors, which orchestrate the activation of a transcriptional program leading to cell survival. During this adaptative process, the hypoxic cancer cells may acquire invasive and metastatic properties as well as increased cell proliferation and resistance to chemotherapy, enhanced angiogenesis, vasculogenic mimicry, and maintenance of cancer cell stemness, which contribute to more aggressive cancer phenotypes. Several studies have shown that hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α) protein is aberrantly overexpressed in many solid tumors from breast, prostate, ovarian, bladder, colon, brain, and pancreas. Thus, it has been considered an important therapeutic target. Here, we reviewed the current knowledge of the relevant roles of cellular hypoxia mechanisms and HIF-1α functions in diverse processes associated with endometrial cancer progression. In addition, we also summarize the role of microRNAs in the posttranscriptional regulation of protein-encoding genes involved in the hypoxia response in endometrial cancer. Finally, we pointed out the need for urgent targeted therapies to impair the cellular processes activated by hypoxia in the tumor microenvironment.

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Bu Shen Yang Xue Prescription Has Treating Effect on Endometrial Cancer through FSH/PI3K/AKT/Gankyrin/HIF-α/cyclinD 1 Pathway in Ishikawa Cells

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2018/8412984 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Yue-qun Chen ◽

Hua-li Fei ◽

Hong-li Zhu

Keyword(s):

Endometrial Cancer ◽

Endometrial Carcinoma ◽

Cancer Cell ◽

Nude Mice ◽

Follicle Stimulating Hormone ◽

Control Group ◽

Model Group ◽

Migration Ability ◽

Ishikawa Cells ◽

And Migration

Background. The formulation of Bu Shen Yang Xue (BSYX) has been clinically used in treating gynecologic disease in China, especially for the development of the endometrium. Endometrial carcinoma is the most common malignant tumor of the female genital tract in developed countries. And few studies have been reported on the antitumor activity of BSYX. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of BSYX on endometrial cancer and make an initial discussion of the underlining mechanisms in Ishikawa cells. Methods and Results. Firstly, 60 SPF female nude mice were randomly divided into control group, model group, BSYX group, and positive group. The models of subcutaneous tumor xenograft of nude mice were established by injection of human endometrial carcinoma cell line Ishikawa tumor cell suspension. Compared with model group, BSYX reduced effectively tumor volume and changed pathological feature in mice tumor issue. Meanwhile, proteins from tumor issues were detected by western blot analysis. The protein levels of follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR), p-Akt/Akt, Gankyrin, and cyclinD1 in the model group were higher than those in control group but the expression in BSYX group was lower than that in the model group. The hypoxia inducible factor alpha (HIF-α) protein level in the model group was lower than those in control group and upregulated in BSYX group. In addition, Ishikawa cells were cultured and then exposed to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), LY294002, a highly selective PI3K inhibitor and serum containing BSYX, respectively. LY294002 and BSYX markedly decreased the cancer cell viability and migration ability and increased the apoptosis rate. FSH promoted the cancer cell ability and migration ability. LY294002 and BSYX evidently downregulated the proteins levels of FSHR, p-Akt/Akt, Gankyrin, and cyclinD1 and upregulated the expression of HIF-α protein, and FSH was on the opposite. Conclusions. Taken together, our results showed that the formulation of BSYX had antitumor effect on endometrial cancer in vivo and in vitro and was related with FSH/PI3K/AKT/Gankyrin/HIF-α/cyclinD1 transduction pathway.

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Cytotoxic Constituents of the Bark of Hypericum roeperianum towards Multidrug-Resistant Cancer Cells

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2020/4314807 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Michel-Gael F. Guefack ◽

Francois Damen ◽

Armelle T. Mbaveng ◽

Simplice Beaudelaire Tankeo ◽

Gabin T. M. Bitchagno ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cancer Cells ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Cancer Cell ◽

Colon Adenocarcinoma ◽

Cancer Cell Lines ◽

Multidrug Resistant ◽

Leukemia Cells ◽

Ros Production ◽

Cytotoxic Effects ◽

Induced Apoptosis

The global cancer burden remains a serious concern with the alarming incidence of one in eight men and one in eleven women dying in developing countries. This situation is aggravated by the multidrug resistance (MDR) of cancer cells that hampers chemotherapy. In this study, the cytotoxicity of the methanol extract (HRB), fractions (HRBa, HRBb, and HRBa1-5), and compounds from the bark of Hypericum roeperianum (HRB) was evaluated towards a panel of 9 cancer cell lines. The mode of action of the HRB and trichadonic acid (1) was also studied. Column chromatography was applied to isolate the constituents of HRB. The cytotoxicity of botanicals and phytochemicals was evaluated by the resazurin reduction assay (RRA). Caspase-Glo assay was used to evaluate the activity of caspases, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) (H2DCFH-DA) were assessed by flow cytometry. Phytochemicals isolated from HRB were trichadonic acid (1), fridelan-3-one (2), 2-hydroxy-5-methoxyxanthone (3), norathyriol (4), 1,3,5,6-tetrahydroxyxanthone (5), betulinic acid (6), 3′-hydroxymethyl-2′-(4″-hydroxy-3″,5″-dimethoxyphenyl)-5′,6′:5,6-(6,8-dihydroxyxanthone)-1′,4′-dioxane (7), and 3′-hydroxymethyl-2′-(4″-hydroxy-3″,5″-dimethoxyphenyl)-5′,6′:5,6-(xanthone)-1′,4′-dioxane (8). Botanicals HRB, HRBa, HRBa2-4, HRBb, and doxorubicin displayed cytotoxic effects towards the 9 tested cancer cell lines. The recorded IC50 values ranged from 11.43 µg/mL (against the P-glycoprotein (gp)-overexpressing CEM/ADR5000 leukemia cells) to 26.75 µg/mL (against HCT116 (p53+/+) colon adenocarcinoma cells) for the crude extract HRB. Compounds 1, 5, and doxorubicin displayed cytotoxic effects towards the 9 tested cancer cell lines with IC50 values varying from 14.44 µM (against CCRF-CEM leukemia cells) to 44.20 µM (against the resistant HCT116 (p53−/−) cells) for 1 and from 38.46 µM (against CEM/ADR5000 cells) to 112.27 µM (against the resistant HCT116 (p53−/−) cells) for 5. HRB and compound 1 induced apoptosis in CCRF-CEM cells. The apoptotic process was mediated by enhanced ROS production for HRB or via caspases activation and enhanced ROS production for compound 1. This study demonstrated that Hypericum roeperianum is a potential source of cytotoxic phytochemicals such as trichadonic acid and could be further exploited in cancer chemotherapy.

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Increased Expression of Death Receptors 4 and 5 Synergizes the Apoptosis Response to Combined Treatment with Etoposide and TRAIL

Molecular and Cellular Biology ◽

10.1128/mcb.20.1.205-212.2000 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

pp. 205-212 ◽

Cited By ~ 181

Author(s):

Spencer B. Gibson ◽

Ryan Oyer ◽

Aaron C. Spalding ◽

Steven M. Anderson ◽

Gary L. Johnson

Keyword(s):

Epithelial Cell ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Topoisomerase Ii ◽

Combined Treatment ◽

Death Receptor ◽

Death Receptors ◽

Dominant Negative ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Death Receptor Ligand ◽

Induced Apoptosis

ABSTRACT Chemotherapeutic genotoxins induce apoptosis in epithelial-cell-derived cancer cells. The death receptor ligand TRAIL also induces apoptosis in epithelial-cell-derived cancer cells but generally fails to induce apoptosis in nontransformed cells. We show here that the treatment of four different epithelial cell lines with the topoisomerase II inhibitor etoposide in combination with TRAIL (tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-related apoptosis-inducing ligand) induces a synergistic apoptotic response. The mechanism of the synergistic effect results from the etoposide-mediated increase in the expression of the death receptors 4 (DR4) and 5 (DR5). Inhibition of NF-κB activation by expression of kinase-inactive MEK kinase 1(MEKK1) or dominant-negative IκB (ΔIκB) blocked the increase in DR4 and DR5 expression following etoposide treatment. Addition of a soluble decoy DR4 fusion protein (DR4:Fc) to cell cultures reduced the amount of etoposide-induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. The addition of a soluble TNF decoy receptor (TNFR:Fc) was without effect, demonstrating the specificity of DR4 binding ligands in the etoposide-induced apoptosis response. Thus, genotoxin treatment in combination with TRAIL is an effective inducer of epithelial-cell-derived tumor cell apoptosis relative to either treatment alone.

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Abstract 3810: Leptomycin B sensitizes ovarian and endometrial cancer cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis

10.1158/1538-7445.am2015-3810 ◽

2015 ◽

Author(s):

François Fabi ◽

France-Hélène Joncas ◽

Sophie Parent ◽

Valérie Leblanc ◽

Eric Asselin

Keyword(s):

Endometrial Cancer ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Leptomycin B ◽

Induced Apoptosis

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Cepharanthine Enhances TRAIL-Mediated Apoptosis Through STAMBPL1-Mediated Downregulation of Survivin Expression in Renal Carcinoma Cells

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms19103280 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 19 (10) ◽

pp. 3280 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Sk Shahriyar ◽

Seon Woo ◽

Seung Seo ◽

Kyoung-jin Min ◽

Taeg Kwon

Keyword(s):

Renal Carcinoma ◽

Apoptotic Cell ◽

Combined Treatment ◽

Ectopic Expression ◽

Survivin Expression ◽

Carcinoma Cells ◽

Inhibitory Protein ◽

Anticancer Properties ◽

Induced Apoptosis ◽

Renal Carcinoma Cells

Cepharanthine (CEP) is a natural plant alkaloid, and has anti-inflammatory, antineoplastic, antioxidative and anticancer properties. In this study, we investigated whether CEP could sensitize renal carcinoma Caki cells to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-induced apoptosis. CEP alone and TRAIL alone had no effect on apoptosis. However, combined CEP and TRAIL treatment markedly enhanced apoptotic cell death in cancer cells, but not in normal cells. CEP induced downregulation of survivin and cellular-FLICE inhibitory protein (c-FLIP) expression at post-translational levels. Ectopic expression of survivin blocked apoptosis by combined treatment with CEP plus TRAIL, but not in c-FLIP overexpression. Interestingly, CEP induced survivin downregulation through downregulation of deubiquitin protein of STAM-binding protein-like 1 (STAMBPL1). Overexpression of STAMBPL1 markedly recovered CEP-mediated survivin downregulation. Taken together, our study suggests that CEP sensitizes TRAIL-mediated apoptosis through downregulation of survivin expression at the post-translational levels in renal carcinoma cells.

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