A novel anti-lung cancer agent inhibits proliferation and epithelial–mesenchymal transition

ObjectiveTo synthesize a novel chalcone-1,3,4-thiadiazole hybrid and investigate its anticancer effects against NCI-H460 cells.Methods(E)-3-(4-bromophenyl)-1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one, 1,3-dibromopropane and 1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-thiol were used as chemical materials to synthesize compound ZW97. The NCI-H460 lung cancer cell line was selected to explore the antitumor effects of compound ZW97 in vitro and in vivo.ResultsCompound ZW97 selectively inhibited cell proliferation against lung cancer cell lines NCI-H460, HCC-44 and NCI-H3122 with IC₅₀ values of 0.15 μM, 2.06 μM and 1.17 μM, respectively. ZW97 suppressed migration and the epithelial–mesenchymal transition process in NCI-H460 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Based on the kinase activity results and docking analysis, compound ZW97 is a novel tyrosine-protein kinase Met (c-Met kinase) inhibitor. It also inhibited NCI-H460 cell growth in xenograft models without obvious toxicity to normal tissues.ConclusionsCompound ZW97 is a potential c-Met inhibitor that might be a promising agent to treat lung cancer by inhibiting the epithelial–mesenchymal transition process.     

RASSF10 is epigenetically inactivated and induces apoptosis in lung cancer cell lines

Ras-association domain family 10 (RASSF10), the latest member of the RASSF family with Ras effector function, has been frequently inactivated by aberrant promoter hypermethylation in several human cancers. However, its role in lung cancer has remained unclear. In this study, we investigated the methylation status of RASSF10 by combined bisulfate restriction analysis (COBRA) and examined its preliminary function in lung cancer cell lines. RASSF10 was methylated in four out of six lung cancer cell lines, including NCI-H157, NCI-460, SPCA-1 and NCI-H446. Treatment with a DNA methylation inhibitor, 5-aza-2′-deoxycytiding (5-aza-DC), restored RASSF10 mRNA expression and the restoration of RASSF10 increased cell apoptosis in a dose dependent manner, whereas knockdown of RASSF10 improved cell proliferation ability and inhibited cell apoptosis rate significantly. Immunofluorescence revealed that RASSF10 protein was located in the cell membrane. Taken together, our data for the first time demonstrates the frequent epigenetic inactivation of RASSF10 in lung cancer cell lines. RASSF10 induces cell apoptosis and might function as a tumor suppressor gene in lung cancer.     

P-glycoprotein-independent apoptosis induction by a novel synthetic compound, MMPT [5-[(4-methylphenyl)methylene]-2-(phenylamino)-4(5H)-thiazolone

To develop new anticancer agents that are effective for treatment of chemoresistant tumors, we screened a chemical library for compounds that can effectively kill both paclitaxel-sensitive lung cancer cell H460 and P-glycoprotein-overexpressing paclitaxel-resistant cell H460/TaxR. A synthetic compound, MMPT (5-[(4-methylphenyl)methylene]-2-(phenylamino)-4(5H)-thiazolone), was identified to induce cytotoxic effects in both H460 and H460/TaxR cells but not in normal fibroblasts. MMPT effectively inhibited the growth of several human lung cancer cell lines in a dose-dependent manner, with 50% inhibitory concentrations ranging from 4.9 to 8.0 microM. The inhibitory effect on cancer cells is independent of the status of p53 and P-glycoprotein. Moreover, MMPT had no obvious toxic effects on normal human fibroblasts and mesenchymal stem cells at the 50% inhibitory concentration for lung cancer cell lines. Treating lung cancer cells with MMPT-induced apoptosis with caspase-3, -8, -9, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage and cytochrome c release from mitochondria. MMPT-induced apoptosis was abrogated when c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation was blocked with a specific JNK inhibitor, SP600125. Furthermore, in vivo administration of MMPT suppressed human H460 xenograft tumor growth in nude mice. Our results suggest that MMPT may induce tumor-selective cell killing in both P-glycoprotein-negative and -positive cancer cells and could be a new anticancer agent for treatment of refractory tumors.     

不同甲基化检测技术对模拟肺癌患者血浆中APC基因甲基化的检测

目的 研究模拟肺癌患者血浆DNA中APC基因甲基化最低检测限,确定不同甲基化检测技术在早期肺癌诊断中的价值.方法 用普通甲基化特异性基因扩增（methylation specific PCR,MSP）方法检测肺癌细胞株NCI-H460细胞APC基因,以酚-氯仿经典方法提取NCI-H460细胞DNA,紫外分光光度计定量并以10倍稀释的浓度梯度依次投入相同的健康人血浆200μl中去,得到模拟肺癌患者血浆,利用磁珠核酸提取方法从模拟血浆样本中提取血浆DNA.对血浆DNA模板进行亚硫酸氢盐化学修饰,并以Sybr-Green Ⅰ为染料进行实时荧光定量MSP检测,同时进行普通MSP检测.结果 NCI-H460细胞中的APC基因启动子1A区719位点存在甲基化,实时荧光定量MSP检测模拟肺癌患者血浆APC基因甲基化的最低检测限为在200 μl血浆中能检测出10^2个肿瘤细胞的DNA,而以普通MSP检测,200 μl血浆中需投入10^3个以上肿瘤细胞的DNA才有弱阳性条带.实时荧光定量MSP检测技术比普通MSP检测的敏感性至少高出10倍.结论 实时荧光定量MSP比普通MSP检测灵敏度高,该技术用于肺癌患者血浆DNA甲基化检测,可能有助于肺癌早期诊断.     

新型多肽聚酰胺-胺型靶向药物载体的载药性能及细胞吸收和毒性

背景:前期研究通过噬菌体展示体内筛选方法获得了一条NCI-H460非小细胞肺癌特异结合的多肽(Lung cancer targetingpe ptide,LCTP),将该多肽与修饰的聚酰胺-胺型(Polyamidoamine,PAMAM)树枝状高分子材料连接制备了纳米靶向药物载体PAMAM-Ac-FITC-LCTP,该载体在体内外对非小细胞肺癌NCI-H460具有很好的靶向性。目的:在前期研究基础上,进一步研究PAMAM-Ac-FITC-LCTP靶向载体对阿霉素的包埋、释放及其细胞吸收和毒性性能。方法:以筛选到的多肽LCTP为靶向剂,构建了PAMAM-Ac-FITC-LCTP靶向载体。采用物理包埋法将PAMAM-Ac-FITC-LCTP与阿霉素连接,通过体外透析实验观察载体对药物的缓释功能,共聚焦显微镜观察细胞对药物的吸收。以游离阿霉素作为对照,MTT法观察载体载药后对NCI-H460细胞的作用。结果与结论:PAMAM-Ac-FITC-LCTP对阿霉素的最大包埋率为7.46%。载体对药物具有明显的缓释作用,离子浓度、pH和温度对药物的释放具有影响,说明PAMAM-Ac-FITC-LCTP主要是通过静电相互作用与阿霉素结合。PAMAM-Ac-FITC-LCTP/阿霉素短时间内较单独药物更高效进入NCI-H460细胞,而复合物24h的细胞毒性与阿霉素对细胞的毒性基本一致。以上结果说明PAMAM-Ac-FITC-LCTP可能是一个肿瘤治疗和诊断中很有用的药物靶向传输载体。     

新型多肽聚酰胺-胺型靶向药物载体的载药性能及细胞吸收和毒性

背景：前期研究通过噬菌体展示体内筛选方法获得了一条NCI-H460非小细胞肺癌特异结合的多肽（Lung cancer targetingpe ptide,LCTP）,将该多肽与修饰的聚酰胺-胺型（Polyamidoamine,PAMAM）树枝状高分子材料连接制备了纳米靶向药物载体PAMAM-Ac-FITC-LCTP,该载体在体内外对非小细胞肺癌NCI-H460具有很好的靶向性。目的：在前期研究基础上,进一步研究PAMAM-Ac-FITC-LCTP靶向载体对阿霉素的包埋、释放及其细胞吸收和毒性性能。方法：以筛选到的多肽LCTP为靶向剂,构建了PAMAM-Ac-FITC-LCTP靶向载体。采用物理包埋法将PAMAM-Ac-FITC-LCTP与阿霉素连接,通过体外透析实验观察载体对药物的缓释功能,共聚焦显微镜观察细胞对药物的吸收。以游离阿霉素作为对照,MTT法观察载体载药后对NCI-H460细胞的作用。结果与结论：PAMAM-Ac-FITC-LCTP对阿霉素的最大包埋率为7.46%。载体对药物具有明显的缓释作用,离子浓度、pH和温度对药物的释放具有影响,说明PAMAM-Ac-FITC-LCTP主要是通过静电相互作用与阿霉素结合。PAMAM-Ac-FITC-LCTP/阿霉素短时间内较单独药物更高效进入NCI-H460细胞,而复合物24h的细胞毒性与阿霉素对细胞的毒性基本一致。以上结果说明PAMAM-Ac-FITC-LCTP可能是一个肿瘤治疗和诊断中很有用的药物靶向传输载体。     

Retracted Article: Structural characterization of centipede oligopeptides and capability detection in human small cell lung carcinoma: inducing apoptosis

Lung cancer is the most frequent cause of cancer deaths in the world, and smoking is considered as one of the major causes. Small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) represents a highly malignant and particularly aggressive form, with properties of widespread metastases and poor prognosis. Herein, twenty-five Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans L. Koch Oligopeptides (SSMOs) were isolated and their structures were identified, and the anti-proliferative activity against lung cancer cell lines was evaluated. Results showed that SSMO-5 induced the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) markedly in NCI-H446 cells. Furthermore, SSMO-5 decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and enhanced the mitochondria-related apoptosis. These results demonstrate that in NCI-H446 cells, the apoptotic and cytotoxic effects of SSMO-5 are mediated by the intrinsic mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway, which in turn causes the activation of caspases and increases Bax expression, while decreases Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL expressions and regulates the interaction of p53/MDM2. In conclusion, a ROS-mediated mitochondrial pathway plays an important role in the process of SSMO-5-induced apoptosis against SCLC.

SSMO-5 mediated the lung cancer cells apoptosis by activating the caspases and regulating the interaction of p53/MDM2.     

Inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase enhances chemotherapeutic effects on H460 human non-small cell lung cancer cells through activation of apoptosis

The effects of Dox (Dox), paclitaxel (Taxol), and serum starvation on the regulation of XIAP (X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis), Bcl-2 phosphorylation, and apoptosis were evaluated in human H460 non-small cell lung cancer cells. Protein kinases that responded to these treatments as prosurvival elements in signal transduction were identified by simultaneously screening phosphorylation of protein kinases in H460 cells cultured in serum-free medium or treated with Dox. We demonstrated that Dox and Taxol induced apoptosis through down-regulation of XIAP and phosphorylation of Bcl-2 in a concentration-dependent manner without changing expression of Bcl-xL in H460 cells. These effects were paralleled by activation of caspase-3 and cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase protein. We identified that serum starvation and Dox reduced phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) kinase (MEK), protein kinase C (PKC) alpha/beta and c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase. The MEK-specific inhibitor U0126 or PKC inhibitor staurosporine (STP) also down-regulated XIAP expression and induced apoptosis. Thus, our data suggest that apoptosis and down-regulation of XIAP induced by Dox exposure or serum starvation may be mediated through inactivation of the MEK/ERK and PKCalpha/beta pathways. In support of this we demonstrated that the cytotoxic effects of Dox when combined with U0126 or STP were enhanced, i.e., synergistic cytotoxic activities were demonstrated. The synergistic interaction of U0126 or STP with Dox was sequence- and concentration-dependent.     

In vitro biological activity of a novel small-molecule inhibitor of polo-like kinase 1

Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) plays key roles in the regulation of mitotic progression, including mitotic entry, spindle formation, chromosome segregation, and cytokinesis. PLK1 expression and activity are strongly linked to proliferating cells. Many studies have shown that PLK1 expression is elevated in a variety of tumors, and high expression often correlates with poor prognosis. Using a variety of methods, including small-molecule inhibition of PLK1 function and/or activity, apoptosis in cancer cell lines, cell cycle arrest in normal cell lines, and antitumor activity in vivo have been observed. In the present study, we have examined the in vitro biological activity of a novel and selective thiophene benzimidazole ATP-competitive inhibitor of PLK1 and PLK3 (5-(5,6-dimethoxy-1H-benzimidazol-1-yl)-3-{[2-(trifluoromethyl)-benzyl]oxy}thiophene-2-carboxamide, called compound 1). Compound 1 has low nanomolar activity against the PLK1 and PLK3 enzymes and potently inhibits the proliferation of a wide variety of tumor cell lines. In the lung adenocarcinoma cell line NCI-H460, compound 1 induces a transient G(2)-M arrest, mitotic spindle defects, and a multinucleate phenotype resulting in apoptosis, whereas normal human diploid fibroblasts arrest in G(2)-M and show little apoptosis. We also describe a cellular mechanistic assay that was developed to identify potent intracellular inhibitors of PLK1. In addition to its potential as a therapeutic agent for treating cancer, compound 1 is also a useful tool molecule for further investigation of the biological functions of PLK1 and PLK3.     

冻融肺癌细胞对骨髓树突状细胞的免疫调节作用

背景:冷冻免疫是近年来倍受关注的课题,但冷冻对细胞免疫功能的影响一直缺乏深入的研究,特别是在细胞凋亡和树突状细胞方面.目的:观察体外培养的肺癌NCI-H446细胞经氩氦刀冻融处理后细胞形态和细胞表面免疫表型的变化,及其能否有效激发骨髓树突状细胞产生特异性抗瘤效应.设计、时间及地点:细胞免疫水平的对照实验,于2002-08/2003 04在解放军海军总医院血液实验室及解放军军事医学科学院细胞与基因治疗中心完成.材料:小细胞肺癌细胞系NCI-H446细胞购自上海科学院细胞库.方法:取体外培养的肺痛NCI-H446细胞经氩氦刀处理后,在体外树突状细胞培养过程中,加入冻融的肺癌细胞,分别观察肺癌细胞的形态结构、混合淋巴细胞反应及细胞毒T淋巴细胞杀癌细胞效应.主要观察指标:培养树突状细胞的细胞形态和细胞表面免疫表型变化,培养细胞的混合淋巴细胞反应结果,培养细胞的凋亡情况.结果:骨髓树突状细胞体外培养后,符合树突状细胞特征.在培养过程中加入冻融的肺癌细胞,不影响树突状细胞细胞表面抗原的表达,混合淋巴细胞反应增强,细胞毒T淋巴细胞可引起肺癌细胞凋亡.结论:经氩氦刀处理的肺痛细胞溶解,胞膜不完整,体外能有效激发骨髓树突状细胞产生特异性抗瘤效应.     

Deoxypodophyllotoxin triggers necroptosis in human non-small cell lung cancer NCI-H460 cells

Deoxypodophyllotoxin (DPT), a naturally occurring microtubule destabilizer, inhibits tubulin polymerization and causes cell cycle arrest at G₂/M phase in tumor cells. However, the anti-tumor effect and specific mechanism of DPT in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are still poorly understood. In this study, we determined the anti-tumor effect and potential mechanism of DPT in the NSCLC cell line, NCI-H460 (H460). First, we demonstrated that DPT significantly inhibits the proliferation of H460 cells in vitro and the growth of H460 xenografts in vivo. In further studies, DPT triggered necroptosis in H460 cells with the following characteristics: (I) necrotic cell death morphology; (II) autophagy; (III) loss of plasma membrane integrity; (IV) loss of mitochondria membrane potential; (V) elevation of reactive oxygen species levels; and (VI) specific inhibition of necroptosis via a small molecule, necrostatin-1. This study also revealed that DPT has a similar effect towards the drug-sensitive cancer cell line, H460, and the drug-resistant cell line, H460/Bcl-xL. To our knowledge, this is the first report to document the induction of necroptosis by a microtubule-targeting agent to circumvent cancer drug resistance, thereby providing a new potential choice for clinical cancer therapy, especially drug-resistant cancer therapy.     

mda-7 In combination with bevacizumab treatment produces a synergistic and complete inhibitory effect on lung tumor xenograft.

Bevacizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), has shown antitumor activity by inhibiting tumor angiogenesis in preclinical and clinical studies. However, bevacizumab monotherapy does not induce complete tumor regression. Therefore, additional treatments must be combined with bevacizumab to promote tumor regression. We previously showed that melanoma differentiation associated gene-7 (mda-7) protein exerts potent antitumor and antiangiogenic activity. Thus, in this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of mda-7 in combination with bevacizumab using lung cancer as a model. In vitro, treatment of human umbilical vein endothelial cells with conditioned medium from Ad-mda7 plus bevacizumab-treated lung tumor cells showed reduced VEGF ligand-receptor binding, and decreased cell survival, resulting in growth arrest and apoptosis. In vivo, treatment of subcutaneous lung tumor xenografts with bevacizumab plus Ad-mda7 resulted in significant tumor growth inhibition and improved survival compared to tumor growth in control mice. Furthermore, tumors in all the Ad-mda7 plus bevacizumab-treated mice completely regressed, and these were tumor free through the study's end. Molecular analysis showed enhanced tumor cell apoptosis and reduced VEGF and CD31 expression in Ad-mda7 plus bevacizumab-treated tumors. Thus, Ad-mda7 and bevacizumab treatment produces a synergistic and complete therapeutic effect against human lung cancer.     

Niclosamide enhances ROS-mediated cell death through c-Jun activation

Radiotherapy is an effective treatment modality in the clinical treatment of cancers, and has been combined with chemotherapy in order to improve therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, we aimed to develop small molecules that enhance the cytotoxic effects of radiotherapy. In this study, we provide evidence that niclosamide is an effective radiosensitizer in non-small cell lung cancer cells. Using a cell-based high-throughput viability screen of 1040 compounds in combination with γ-ionizing radiation (IR), we found niclosamide, an FDA-approved antihelminthic agent, had a radiosensitizing effect on H1299 human lung cancer cells. Pretreatment with niclosamide enhanced IR- induced cell death of H1299 in a dose-dependent manner via apoptosis compared with IR or niclosamide alone. The combined treatment induced significantly more phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and c-Jun in H1299 cells than IR or niclosamide alone. Since IR induces apoptosis through generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) was employed as another ROS generator and we found that niclosamide also sensitized cells to H₂O₂. Niclosamide pretreatment also induced c-Jun and its phosphorylation in the presence of H₂O₂, thereby enhancing apoptosis. N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) treatment abolished both cell death and c-Jun activation induced by the combination treatments. Knockdown of c-Jun also decreased PARP cleavage and clonogenic cell survival in niclosamide- and IR-treated H1299 cells. Our findings suggest that niclosamide could be a promising radiosensitizer in lung cancer patients through activation of the p38 MAPK-c-Jun axis.     

Combined therapy with chemotherapeutic agents and herpes simplex virus type 1 ICP34.5 mutant (HSV-1716) in human non-small cell lung cancer

A replication-selective herpes simplex virus type 1 ICP34.5 mutant (HSV-1716) has shown efficacy both in vitro and in vivo against human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines but complete eradication of tumor has not been accomplished with a single viral treatment in our murine xenograft models. Therefore, strategies to enhance the efficacy of this treatment were investigated. We determined the oncolytic activity of HSV-1716 in NCI-H460 cells in combination with each of four chemotherapeutic agents: mitomycin C (MMC), cis-platinum II (cis-DDP), methotrexate (MTX), or doxorubicin (ADR). Isobologram analysis was performed to evaluate the interaction between the viral and chemotherapeutic agents. The oncolytic effect of HSV-1716 in combination with MMC was synergistic in two of five NSCLC cell lines. In the other three cell lines, the combined effect appeared additive. No antagonism was observed. The in vivo effect of this combination was then examined in a murine xenograft model. NCI-H460 flank tumors were directly injected with HSV-1716 (4 x 106 PFU) followed by intravenous MMC administration (0.17 mg/kg) 24 hr later. After 3 weeks, the mean tumor weight in the combined treatment group was significantly less than either individual treatment in an additive manner. The synergistic dose of MMC neither augmented nor inhibited viral replication in vitro and HSV-1716 infection did not upregulate DT-diaphorase, which is the primary enzyme responsible for MMC activation. In summary, the combination of HSV-1716 with common chemotherapeutic agents may augment the effect of HSV-based therapy in the treatment of NSCLC.     

RNAi-chk1在抑制小鼠Lewis肺癌细胞生长作用的实验研究

目的观察chk1-RNAi联合放疗对Lewis肺癌细胞的抑制及凋亡情况。方法以脂质体Lipofectimine-2000介导,将chk1-536的siRNA表达载体转染小鼠Lewis肺癌细胞株,将其分为空白对照组、错义序列组、siRNA组,2Gy照射组、2Gy照射+错义序列组、2Gy照射+siRNA组。应用MTT法检测转染细胞抑制率、流式细胞术分析转染siRNA后细胞的凋亡,并应用RT-PCR检测转染细胞chk1-mRNA表达水平。结果 chk1-siRNA转染联合辐射组的Lewis肺癌细胞,与对照组相比较生长增殖受抑制、细胞凋亡增加;MTT法检测和流式细胞术分析示:chk1-siRNA转染联合辐射组的Lewis肺癌细胞生长增殖受抑制,细胞凋亡增加(P<0.05);同时,RT-PCR法检测该组细胞中chk1mRNA表达量下降(P<0.05)。并且siRNA转染可增加2Gy照射引起的Lewis肺癌细胞凋亡。结论针对chk-1的RNAi可以提高Lewis肺癌细胞的抑制率及放疗引起的肿瘤细胞的凋亡,对肿瘤有治疗作用,与放疗有协同作用。     

Influence of SiRNA targeting survivin on chemosensitivity of H460/cDDP lung cancer cells

We investigated the difference in survivin expression between a multidrug-resistant lung cancer cell line (H460/cDDP) and its parental counterpart (H460) and the influence of siRNA targeting survivin on the chemosensitivity of H460/cDDP. SiRNA targeting survivin was transfected into H460/cDDP cells using a liposome approach. Survivin mRNA and protein expression were significantly higher in H460/cDDP than H460 cells. The median inhibitory concentrations (IC(50)s) for cisplatin and paclitaxol in vitro against H460/cDDP cells were significantly lower in cells treated with survivin-specific siRNA than in control cells. Apoptosis and cleaved caspase-3 expression were analysed using annexin V and Western blotting, respectively, and showed a significant increase in apoptosis after treatment with the chemotherapeutic agents plus specific siRNA. Specific siRNA sensitized H460/cDDP cells to both cisplatin and paclitaxol. Thus, survivin appears to participate in the multidrug resistance mechanism of H460/cDDP cells and siRNA targeting survivin has the potential to increase the sensitivity of drug-resistant cancer cells to anticancer drugs.     

Cancer-targeted BikDD gene therapy elicits protective antitumor immunity against lung cancer

Targeted cancer-specific gene therapy is a promising strategy for treating metastatic lung cancer, which is a leading cause of lung cancer-related deaths. Previously, we developed a cancer-targeted gene therapy expression system with high tumor specificity and strong activity that selectively induced lung cancer cell killing without affecting normal cells in immunocompromised mice. Here, we found this cancer-targeted gene therapy, SV-BikDD, composed of the survivin promoter in the VP16-GAL4-WPRE integrated systemic amplifier system to drive the apoptotic gene BikDD, not only caused cytotoxic effects in cancer cells but also elicited a cancer-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte response to synergistically increase the therapeutic effect and further develop an effective systemic antitumoral immunity against rechallenges of tumorigenic dose of parental tumor cells inoculated at distant sites in immunocompetent mice. In addition, this cancer-targeted gene therapy does not elicit an immune response against normal tissues, but CMV-BikDD treatment does. The therapeutic vector could also induce proinflammatory cytokines to activate innate immunity and provide some benefits in antitumor gene therapy. Thus, this study provides a promising strategy with benefit of antitumoral immune response worthy of further development in clinical trials for treating lung cancer via cancer-targeted gene therapy.     

The tetrameric peptide LfcinB (20–25)4 derived from bovine lactoferricin induces apoptosis in the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line

The cytotoxic effect of the tetrameric peptide LfcinB (20–25)₄ against breast cancer cell line ATCC® HTB-22™ (MCF-7) was evaluated. The tetrameric peptide exhibited a concentration-dependent cytotoxic effect against MCF-7 cancer cells. The peptide at 22 µM had the maximum cytotoxic effect against MCF-7 cancer cells, reducing their cell viability to ∼20%. The cytotoxic effect of the tetrameric peptide against MCF-7 cells was sustained for 24 hours. Furthermore, the tetrameric peptide did not exhibit a significant cytotoxic effect against the non-tumorogenic trophoblastic cell line, which confirms their selectivity for breast cancer cell lines. The MCF-7 cells treated at 12.2 µM for 1 h exhibited morphological changes characteristic of apoptosis, such as rounded forms and cellular shrinkage. Furthermore, this peptide induces severe cellular damage to MCF-7 cells, mitochondrial membrane depolarization, and increase of cytoplasmic calcium concentration. Our results suggest that it has a significant selective cytotoxic effect against MCF-7 cells, which may be mainly associated with the apoptotic pathway. This peptide, which contains the RRWQWR motif, could be considered to be a promising candidate for developing therapeutic agents for the treatment of breast cancer.

The cytotoxic effect of the tetrameric peptide LfcinB (20–25)₄ against breast cancer cell line ATCC® HTB-22™ (MCF-7) was evaluated.     

Murine double minute 2 as a therapeutic target for radiation sensitization of lung cancer

Murine double minute 2 (MDM2) inhibits p53-mediated functions, which are essential for therapies using DNA-damaging agents. The purpose of this study was to determine whether MDM2 inhibition enhances the radiosensitivity of a lung cancer model. The effects of MDM2 inhibition on tumor vasculature were also studied. Transient transfection of H460 lung cancer cells and human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC) with antisense oligonucleotides (ASODN) against MDM2 resulted in a reduced level of MDM2 and increased levels of p21 and p53. Clonogenic assays showed that inhibition of MDM2 greatly decreased cell survival following irradiation. Quantification of apoptotic cells by 7-aminoactinomycin D staining and of senescent cells by X-gal staining showed that both processes were significantly increased in H460 cells treated with MDM2-specific ASODN and radiation. H460 xenografts that were treated with MDM2 ASODN plus radiotherapy also showed significant growth delay (P < 0.001) and increased apoptosis by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labeling staining. HUVECs transfected with MDM2-specific ASODN showed impaired viability and migration with decreased tube formation. Doppler studies showed that tumor blood flow was compromised when H460 xenografts were treated with MDM2-specific ASODN and radiation. A combination of radiotherapy and inhibition of MDM2 through the antisense approach results in improved tumor control in the H460 lung cancer model. This implies that a similar strategy should be investigated among patients with locally advanced lung cancer, receiving thoracic radiotherapy.