Antitumor effects of YM155, a novel survivin suppressant, against human aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma

YM155, a novel small-molecule that down-regulates survivin, exhibits broad, potent antitumor activity against a range of human tumors. We evaluated the activity of YM155 in aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In a number of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma lines, YM155 exhibited 50% growth inhibition with values between 0.23 and 3.9 nM. Within in vivo xenograft models, continuous infusion of YM155 eradicated large, established subcutaneous WSU-DLCL-2 and Ramos tumors, with sustained efficacy observed through 4 cycles of YM155 therapy. YM155 increased survival significantly versus rituximab in disseminated Ramos models. This study suggests that YM155 may represent an effective treatment for aggressive lymphomas.     

Combination of YM155, a survivin suppressant with a STAT3 inhibitor: A new strategy to treat diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Survivin and STAT3 pathway have been reported to be important for the growth of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cells. Here we investigated the antitumor activity of sepantronium bromide (YM155), a survivin suppressant, in combination with STAT3 inhibitors in DLBCL cell lines in vitro. YM155 synergistically enhanced STAT3 inhibitors (AG490 and STA-21)-induced apoptosis in DLBCL cell lines. Moreover, rituximab, which shows inhibitory activity against STAT3, also sensitized DLBCL cell lines to YM155 regardless of sensitivity to rituximab. These results suggest that combining the inhibition of survivin with STAT3 pathway is an attractive and potentially effective way for the treatment of DLBCL.     

The over-expression of survivin enhances the chemotherapeutic efficacy of YM155 in human hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The inability of chemotherapeutic drugs to selectively target HCC tumor cells because of their predominant resistant phenotype to most conventional anticancer agents bestows a major obstacle for the clinical management of HCC. In this report, we have examined and demonstrated the remarkable heterogeneity of expression of survivin and its phosphorylated active form (p-survivin) in HCC patients'' tissues and cell lines. Furthermore, the expression of survivin and p-survivin in HCC cell lines was found to be associated with response to the small-molecule survivin suppressant YM155. Therefore, in the HCC cell lines that express elevated level of survivin and p-survivin, YM155 efficiently inhibited their proliferation, induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis resulting in DNA damage through the dysregulation of cell-cycle checkpoint-related regulatory genes. Importantly, YM155 yielded significantly better therapeutic effect than sorafenib when tested in an orthotopic mouse model using patient-derived HCC xenografts with elevated survivin and p-survivin expression. Our results clearly demonstrated that the level of survivin and p-survivin expression could serve as molecular predictive biomarkers to select potential YM155-responsive patients, in a move towards delivering precision medicine for HCC patients.     

YM155增敏Lexatumumab诱导肝癌细胞株LH86凋亡的实验研究

目的 探讨小分子化合物YM155增敏死亡受体单克隆抗体Lexatumumab激活诱导肝癌细胞株LH86凋亡的效果及分子机制。方法 体外培养肝癌LH86细胞株,分为对照组（DMSO）、YM155处理组（1 μmol／L）、Lexatumumab 处理组（1 μg／ml）和YM155（1 μmol／L）联合Lexatumumab（1 μg／ml）组。荧光显微镜观察上述各组细胞核凋亡形态变化,计数凋亡细胞,计算凋亡率。Western blotting检测各组中细胞凋亡标志性蛋白caspase-3和Bax的表达。结果 荧光显微镜下,1 μmol／L YM155或1 μg／ml Lexatumumab单独处理均未能诱导LH86细胞出现胞核固缩凝聚或染色质断裂,而1 μmol／L YM155预处理细胞30 min能够逆转Lexatumumab诱导的肝癌细胞核固缩凝聚和染色质断裂。YM155和Lexatumumab联合处理 12 h,细胞凋亡率达60％,高于其余3组（P＜0.05）。Western blotting 检测显示,仅YM155联合Lexatumumab组出现明显的caspase-3蛋白切割条带;YM155和Lexatumumab单独处理均未能诱导Bax构象变化;经1 μmol/L YM155预处理后,Lexatumumab能够有效诱导Bax构象变化激活。结论 YM155能够增敏单克隆抗体Lexatumumab诱导肝癌细胞株LH86细胞凋亡,YM155和Lexatumumab联合处理诱导凋亡可能与Bax构象变化激活相关。     

Marked anti-tumour activity of the combination of YM155, a novel survivin suppressant,and platinum-based drugs

Background:

Survivin, a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein family, is an attractive target for cancer therapy. We have now investigated the effects of the combination of YM155, a novel small-molecule inhibitor of survivin expression, and platinum compounds (cisplatin and carboplatin) on human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines.

Methods:

The anti-cancer efficacy of YM155 in combination with platinum compounds was evaluated on the basis of cell death and progression of tumour xenografts. Platinum compound-induced DNA damage was evaluated by immunofluorescence analysis of histone γ-H2AX.

Results:

Immunofluorescence analysis of histone γ-H2AX showed that YM155 delayed the repair of double-strand breaks induced in nuclear DNA by platinum compounds. The combination of YM155 and platinum compounds also induced synergistic increases both in the number of apoptotic cells and in the activity of caspase-3. Finally, combination therapy with YM155 and platinum compounds delayed the growth of NSCLC tumour xenografts in nude mice to an extent greater than that apparent with either treatment modality alone.

Conclusion:

These results suggest that YM155 sensitises tumour cells to platinum compounds both in vitro and in vivo, and that this effect is likely attributable to the inhibition of DNA repair and consequent enhancement of apoptosis.     

Suppression of Rotenone-Treated Human Breast Cancer Stem Cell Survival Using Survivin Inhibitor YM155 is Associated to Oxidative Stress Modulation

Background: Despite recent progress in molecular-targeted therapies, breast cancer remains the primary leading cause of cancer related death among women worldwide. Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) are believed to be responsible for therapy resistance and cancer recurrence. We recently demonstrated that human BCSCs (CD24-/CD44+) could survive better than their counterpart non-BCSCs (CD24-/CD44-) when treated with rotenone, possibly due to lower levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, high expression of antioxidant manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), and anti-apoptotic survivin. The aim of this study was to verify the role of survivin on human BCSCs survival under oxidative stress modulation by suppressing its expression using YM155, a survivin inhibitor. Methods: Human BCSCs (ALDH+ cells) were treated with YM155 for 24 h prior to treatment with rotenone for a further 6 h. We determined intracellular superoxide levels were determined using dihydroethidium assay, survivin and MnSOD expression using qRT-PCR, survivin protein level using ELISA, as well as cell viability using trypan blue exclusion and acridine orange/ethidium bromide apoptosis assay. Results: Suppression of survivin expression using YM155 could reduce the survival of rotenone-treated BCSCs, which may be associated with oxidative stress modulation, as shown by increased ROS levels and decreased MnSOD expression. We confirm that survivin is responsible for maintaining BCSCs survival under oxidative stress modulation. Furthermore, YM155 could modulate oxidative stress in BCSCs by reducing MnSOD expression and increasing ROS levels. Conclusion: YM155 treatment could be used to overcome BCSCs resistance to oxidative stress-based anticancer therapies.     

YM155对肝癌HepG2细胞增殖和凋亡的影响

目的:探讨YM155对肝癌HepG2细胞增殖和凋亡的影响及可能的机制。方法:采用CCK-8法检测细胞生长抑制率；应用流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡率的变化；Western blot法检测细胞中蛋白表达的变化，实时定量RT-PCR检测survivin mRNA表达的变化。结果:YM155对人肝癌HepG2细胞的生长抑制作用呈现剂量和时间依赖性。流式细胞术结果显示，HepG2细胞凋亡率明显升高,呈现剂量依赖性。YM155可引起survivin mRNA及蛋白表达下降，而caspase-3、caspase-9和PARP蛋白表达上升。结论:YM155可以抑制人肝癌HepG2细胞的增殖并促进其凋亡，其机制可能是通过激活caspase凋亡途径来实现。     

YM155对骨肉瘤细胞系F5M2增殖和凋亡的影响

目的:探讨YM155对人骨肉瘤细胞系F5M2的作用及其机制.方法:体外培养人骨肉瘤细胞系F5M2,不同浓度YM155处理人骨肉瘤细胞系F5M2,用MTT法检测其对细胞增殖的影响;流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡率;实时荧光定量PCR检测survivin mRNA的表达;蛋白免疫印迹法检测survivin、caspase-3蛋白的表达.结果:YM155可抑制人骨肉瘤细胞F5M2的增殖,且呈剂量依赖性.随着YM155浓度的升高,人骨肉瘤细胞F5M2凋亡率明显增加,同时能够降低survivin在 mRNA水平和蛋白水平的表达,以及激活caspase-3.结论:YM155能够有效抑制人骨肉瘤细胞F5M2增殖,并诱导其凋亡,其可能机制为下调骨肉瘤细胞系F5M2 survivin的表达,继而激活caspase凋亡信号通路.     

Treat cancers by targeting survivin: Just a dream or future reality?

Since the discovery of survivin (BIRC5) as a cancer-related molecule by Grazia Ambrosini and Dario C. Altieri at 1997, our knowledge related to the function of this molecule has been extended from simple apoptosis inhibition to complicated, interlinked processes that involve interference of mitosis, apoptosis, autophagy, and even DNA repair recently. However, despite the growing amount of knowledge related to survivin in the last ten years, the development of survivin inhibitors or survivin-related molecular therapies is surprisingly and relatively slow as compared to other therapeutic inhibitors for cancer treatment. Here, the molecular functions of survivin and the progress of development of survivin-targeting therapies are discussed in detail. Functional differences between different survivin-specific inhibitors are discussed from both structural and biochemical point of views. This review also reveals different challenges that scientists are currently facing in the development of survivin inhibitors for clinical application. Finally, future directions for the development of survivin-targeted therapies are discussed in this review.     

YM155抑制骨肉瘤细胞系F5M2迁移和侵袭

目的:探讨YM155对人骨肉瘤细胞系F5M2的生物学恶性行为的影响。方法:体外培养人骨肉瘤细胞系F5M2,不同浓度YM155处理人骨肉瘤细胞系F5M2,细胞克隆实验检测骨肉瘤细胞增殖能力的变化,采用迁移和侵袭实验检测骨肉瘤细胞迁移、侵袭能力的变化,透射电镜观察YM155作用下细胞结构的改变。结果:YM155具有抑制骨肉瘤细胞增殖的效果。YM155作用于骨肉瘤细胞后,细胞伪足减少,人骨肉瘤细胞F5M2细胞迁移、侵袭能力下降。结论:YM155能够有效抑制人骨肉瘤细胞F5M2迁移、侵袭恶性生物学行为,为临床应用提供了一定的理论依据。     

非甾类抗炎药通过β-catenin/TCF4 survivin通路诱导结肠癌细胞凋亡

背景与目的：Wnt信号传导通路异常导致的细胞增殖加快和凋亡抵抗,在结肠癌发生发展中发挥重要作用。本研究探讨Wnt信号传导通路在结肠癌细胞中拮抗凋亡的作用机制。方法：将survivin的启动子区克隆到荧光素酶报告基因表达系统,与pRL-SV40共转染HCT116细胞,利用双荧光检测系统检测启动子区活性;以非甾类抗炎药物indomethacin刺激HCT116细胞,细胞P1染色后,利用流式细胞仪检测细胞的凋亡状态;Western blot检测蛋白表达。结果：Smvivin作为β-catenin的靶基因受到Wnt通路的调节;lndomethacin通过β-catenin／TCF4信号通路在转录水平抑制survivin的表达;Survivin过表达可以部分逆转Indomethacin诱导的HCT116细胞凋亡。结论：β-catenin／TCF4-survivin通路作为拮抗细胞凋亡的重要途径,在结肠癌的治疗方面具有重要的应用前景。     

YM155, a novel small-molecule survivin suppressant, induces regression of established human hormone-refractory prostate tumor xenografts

Various accumulating evidence suggests that survivin, a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) family, plays an important role in drug resistance and cancer cell survival in many types of cancer, including hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC). Here, we characterized YM155, a novel small-molecule survivin suppressant, using a survivin gene promoter activity assay. YM155 suppressed expression of survivin and induced apoptosis in PC-3 and PPC-1 human HRPC cell lines at 10 nmol/L. In contrast, YM155 up to 100 nmol/L showed little effect on expression levels of other IAP- or Bcl-2-related proteins. In a s.c. xenografted PC-3 tumor model in mice, 3-day continuous infusions of YM155 at 3 to 10 mg/kg induced massive tumor regression accompanied by suppression of intratumoral survivin. YM155 also completely inhibited the growth of orthotopically xenografted PC-3 tumors. No significant decreases in body weight were observed in mice treated with YM155 during the experimental period. Pharmacokinetic analyses indicated that YM155 is highly distributed to tumors and at concentrations approximately 20-fold higher than those in plasma. Our findings represent the first attempt to show tumor regression and suppression of survivin in p53-deficient human HRPC cells by a single small molecular compound treatment. Further extensive investigation of YM155 in many types of cancer, including HRPC, seems to be worthwhile to develop this novel therapeutic approach.     

Radiosensitizing effect of YM155, a novel small-molecule survivin suppressant, in non-small cell lung cancer cell lines

PURPOSE: Survivin, a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein family, is an attractive target for cancer therapy. We have now investigated the effect of YM155, a small-molecule inhibitor of survivin expression, on the sensitivity of human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines to gamma-radiation. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: The radiosensitizing effect of YM155 was evaluated on the basis of cell death, clonogenic survival, and progression of tumor xenografts. Radiation-induced DNA damage was evaluated on the basis of histone H2AX phosphorylation and foci formation. RESULTS: YM155 induced down-regulation of survivin expression in NSCLC cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. A clonogenic survival assay revealed that YM155 increased the sensitivity of NSCLC cells to gamma-radiation in vitro. The combination of YM155 and gamma-radiation induced synergistic increases both in the number of apoptotic cells and in the activity of caspase-3. Immunofluorescence analysis of histone gamma-H2AX also showed that YM155 delayed the repair of radiation-induced double-strand breaks in nuclear DNA. Finally, combination therapy with YM155 and gamma-radiation delayed the growth of NSCLC tumor xenografts in nude mice to a greater extent than did either treatment modality alone. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that YM155 sensitizes NSCLC cells to radiation both in vitro and in vivo, and that this effect of YM155 is likely attributable, at least in part, to the inhibition of DNA repair and enhancement of apoptosis that result from the down-regulation of survivin expression. Combined treatment with YM155 and radiation warrants investigation in clinical trials as a potential anticancer strategy.     

miR-155在细胞因子诱导的杀伤细胞诱导白血病细胞凋亡中的作用及其机制

目的 观察细胞因子诱导的杀伤细胞(CIK细胞)对白血病细胞凋亡的影响,探讨miR-155在此过程中的作用.方法 MTT法检测CIK细胞对白血病NALM-6和Jurkat细胞的细胞毒作用,实时定量反转录PCR检测白血病细胞miR-155表达,流式细胞术检测miR-155对CIK细胞诱导白血病细胞凋亡的影响,构建包含miR-155作用位点的CEBP/β基因3'-UTR区的质粒,转染白血病细胞,双荧光素酶报告基因试剂盒检测白血病细胞CEBP/β荧光素酶活性.结果 CIK细胞对NALM-6和Jurkat细胞具有强大的细胞毒作用,且呈时间与剂量依赖性(P＜0.05),同时CIK细胞能上调NALM-6和Jurkat细胞中miR-155的表达,其中NALM-6细胞上调(2.87±0.19)倍(t=2.787,P＜0.05),Jurkat细胞上调(1.98±0.25)倍(t＝ 3.513,P＜ 0.05).另外,miR-155 mimics能促进CIK细胞对NALM-6和Jurkat细胞诱导的凋亡作用(t=4.239,P＜0.05;t=3.565,P＜0.05),而miR-155抑制剂能够拮抗此过程(t=3.772,P＜ 0.05;t=4.017,P＜ 0.05).miR-155直接作用于CEBP/β基因3'-UTR区,且CIK细胞降低白血病细胞荧光素酶活性,其中NALM-6细胞下降(42.89±2.07)％(t=3.578,P＜0.05),Jurkat细胞下降(37.02±1.95)％(t=4.393,P＜ 0.05).结论 CIK细胞通过上调miR-155促进白血病细胞凋亡,这为CIK细胞治疗白血病提供新的数据.     

Glycogen synthase kinase 3beta induces apoptosis in cancer cells through increase of survivin nuclear localization

Glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK3beta) regulates numerous signaling pathways that control a wide range of cellular processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and metabolism. We report a novel function of GSK3beta: It interacts with the inhibitor-of-apoptosis protein (IAP) survivin to modulate its expression, thus regulating apoptosis in human lung cancer cells. A co-immunoprecipitation assay revealed that GSK3beta can bind survivin. Activation of GSK3beta induced translocation of survivin from the cytoplasm to the nucleus, resulting in G1 cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis, as well as sensitization to the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin. In contrast, inactivation of GSK3beta, either by transfection of a dominant-negative mutant inhibitor DN-GSK3beta or with selective inhibitor LiCl, increased cytoplasmic survivin expression, leading to cell-cycle progression and resistance to apoptosis. These results identify a pro-apoptotic role for GSK3beta in cancer cells, through its modulation of survivin in subcellular redistribution. This new role suggests that there is a potential for pharmacologic activation of GSK3beta to enhance treatment of cancer patients, including those with resistance.     

A phase II study of the survivin suppressant YM155 in patients with refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

BACKGROUND:

Few effective therapeutic options exist for patients with refractory diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL). YM155 is a survivin suppressant with activity against DLBCL in a phase I trial. This phase II study was conducted to better characterize the toxicity and efficacy of this small molecule in patients with refractory DLBCL.

METHODS:

Forty‐one patients with a median age of 66 years and 3 prior regimens were enrolled and treated with a YM155 dose of 5 mg/m²/d by continuous infusion for 168 hours every 21 days for up to 15 cycles of treatment. The median number of completed cycles was 3.

RESULTS:

One patient had a complete remission (CR) (2.4%) with an additional 2 patients (5.9%) responding, with a median progression‐free survival of 58 days.

CONCLUSIONS:

YM155 was well tolerated with major toxicities including anemia and fatigue. Whereas YM155 had limited single‐agent activity, preclinical data suggest its role in combination with other agents, including rituximab, and a study of that combination in ongoing. Cancer 2012;118: 3128–34. © 2011 American Cancer Society.     

靶向survivin的siRNA抑制乳腺癌MCF-7细胞增殖并诱导其凋亡

目的 观察靶向survivin的siRNA对乳腺癌细胞增殖和凋亡的影响。方法构建靶向survivin的siRNA真核表达载体,采用Lipofectamine^TM2000转染乳腺癌细胞MCF-7,采用半定量RTPCR、免疫组化技术检测转染前后MCF-7细胞survivin基因表达的变化;采用MTT法检测对MCF-7细胞增殖的抑制作用;采用TUNEL法检测诱导MCF-7细胞凋亡的作用。结果靶向survivin的序列特异性siRNA可以高效抑制MCF-7细胞survivin基因的表达,在mRNA水平其表达抑制率为64．9％;在蛋白质水平其表达抑制率为79．7％;转染靶向survivin的siRNA真核表达载体可以显著抑制MCF-7细胞的增殖,细胞重新接种24、48h后,其增殖抑制率分别为31．6％和33．0％;转染后24h可以诱导12．9％的细胞凋亡。结论利用RNA干扰技术阻断survivin基因的表达可以显著抑制MCF-7细胞的增殖,并在一定程度上诱导其自发凋亡,靶向survivin的RNA干扰技术在乳腺癌的基因治疗中具有一定的价值。     

YM155 sensitizes triple‐negative breast cancer to membrane‐bound TRAIL through p38 MAPK‐ and CHOP‐mediated DR5 upregulation

Because available treatments have limited efficacy in triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC), the identification of new therapeutic strategies to improve patients' outcome is urgently needed. In our study, we investigated the effects of the administration of the small molecule selective survivin suppressant YM155, alone or in association with CD34+ cells transduced with a replication‐deficient adenovirus encoding the human tumor necrosis factor‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand (TRAIL) gene (CD34‐TRAIL+ cells), in three TNBC cell models. YM155 exposure significantly impaired TNBC cell growth and selectively modulated survivin expression at both mRNA and protein level. In addition, co‐culturing YM155‐treated TNBC cells with CD34‐TRAIL+ cells resulted in markedly increased cytotoxic effect and apoptotic response in comparison with single treatments. Such a chemosensitizing effect was observed only in TNBC cells inherently expressing DR5 and relied on the ability of YM155 to upregulate DR5 expression through a p38 MAPK‐ and CHOP‐dependent mechanism. YM155/CD34‐TRAIL+ combination also showed a significant inhibitory effect on the growth of DR5‐expressing TNBC cells following xenotransplantation into NOD/SCID mice, in the absence of toxicity. Overall, our data (i) provide, for the first time, evidence that YM155 sensitizes TNBC cells to CD34‐TRAIL+ cells‐induced apoptosis by a mechanism involving the downregulation of survivin and the simultaneous p38 MAPK‐ and CHOP‐mediated upregulation of DR5, and (ii) suggest the combination of YM155 with TRAIL‐armed CD34+ progenitor cells as a promising therapeutic option for patients with TNBC expressing DR5.