Inhibition of polo-like kinase 1 in glioblastoma multiforme induces mitotic catastrophe and enhances radiosensitisation.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common primary brain tumour in the United States of America (USA) with a median survival of approximately 14 months. Low survival rates are attributable to the aggressiveness of GBM and a lack of understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying GBM. The disruption of signalling pathways regulated either directly or indirectly by protein kinases is frequently observed in cancer cells and thus the development of inhibitors of specific kinases has become a major focus of drug discovery in oncology. To identify protein kinases required for the survival of GBM we performed a siRNA-based RNAi screen focused on the human kinome in GBM. Inhibition of the polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) induced a reduction in the viability in two different GBM cell lines. To assess the potential of inhibiting PLK1 as a treatment strategy for GBM we examined the effects of a small molecule inhibitor of PLK1, GSK461364A, on the growth of GBM cells. PLK1 inhibition arrested cells in the mitotic phase of the cell cycle and induced cell kill by mitotic catastrophe. GBM engrafts treated with GSK461364A showed statistically significant inhibition of tumour growth. Further, exposure of different GBM cells to RNAi or GSK461364A prior to radiation resulted in an increase in their radiosensitivity with dose enhancement factor ranging from 1.40 to 1.53 with no effect on normal cells. As a measure of DNA double strand breaks, γH2AX levels were significantly higher in the combined modality as compared to the individual treatments. This study suggests that PLK1 is an important therapeutic target for GBM and can enhance radiosensitivity in GBM.

Radiosensitization by the novel DNA intercalating agent vosaroxin.

PURPOSE: Vosaroxin is a first in class naphthyridine analog structurally related to quinolone antibacterials, that intercalates DNA and inhibits topoisomerase II. Vosaroxin is not a P-glycoprotein receptor substrate and its activity is independent of p53, thus evading common drug resistance mechanisms. To evaluate vosaroxin as a clinically applicable radiation sensitizer, we investigated its effects on tumor cell radiosensitivity in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: Vosaroxin's effect on post-irradiation sensitivity of U251, DU145, and MiaPaca-2 cells was assessed by clonogenic assay. Subsequent mechanistic and in vivo studies were performed with U251 cells. Cell cycle distribution and G2 checkpoint integrity was analyzed by flow cytometry. DNA damage and repair was evaluated by a high throughput gamma-H2AX assay. Apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry. Mitotic catastrophe was assessed by microscopic evidence of fragmented nuclei by immunofluorescence. In vivo radiosensitization was measured by subcutaneous tumor growth delay. RESULTS: 50-100 nmol/L treatment with vosaroxin resulted in radiosensitization of all 3 cell lines tested with a dose enhancement factor of 1.20 to 1.51 measured at a surviving fraction of 0.1. The maximal dose enhancement was seen in U251 cells treated with 75 nmol/L vosaroxin (DEF 1.51). Vosaroxin exposure did not change cell cycle distribution prior to irradiation nor alter G2 checkpoint integrity after irradiation. No difference was seen in the apoptotic fraction regardless of drug or radiation treatment. The number of cells in mitotic catastrophe was significantly greater in irradiated cells treated with vosaroxin than cells receiving radiation only at 72 hr (p = 0.009). Vosaroxin alone did not significantly increase mitotic catastrophe over control (p = 0.53). Cells treated with vosaroxin and radiation maintained significantly higher gamma-H2AX levels than cells treated with vehicle control (p = 0.014), vosaroxin (p = 0.042), or radiation alone (p = 0.039) after 24 hr. In vivo tumor growth delay was 1.5 days for vosaroxin alone (IV 10 mg/kg), 1.0 days for radiation (3 Gy) alone, and 8.6 days for the group treated with vosaroxin 4 hours prior to radiation. CONCLUSIONS: Vosaroxin enhanced tumor cell radiosensitivity in vitro and in vivo. The mechanism appears to be related to inhibition of DNA repair and increased mitotic catastrophe.