Novel Therapeutic Application of Self-Assembly Peptides Targeting the Mitochondria in In Vitro and In Vivo Experimental Models of Gastric Cancer.
Int J Mol Sci
; 21(17)2020 Aug 25.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32854415
ABSTRACT
Here, we provide the possibility of a novel chemotherapeutic agent against gastric cancer cells, comprising the combination of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and a mitochondria-targeting self-assembly peptide, which is a phenylalanine dipeptide with triphenyl phosphonium (Mito-FF). The anticancer effects and mechanisms of 5-FU and Mito-FF, individually or in combination, were compared through both in vitro and in vivo models of gastric cancer. Our experiments consistently demonstrated that the 5-FU and Mito-FF combination therapy was superior to monotherapy with either, as manifested by both higher reduction of proliferation as well as an induction of apoptotic cell death. Interestingly, we found that combining 5-FU with Mito-FF leads to a significant increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reduction of antioxidant enzymes in gastric cancer cells. Moreover, the inhibition of ROS abrogated the pro-apoptotic effects of combination therapy, suggesting that enhanced oxidative stress could be the principal mechanism of the action of combination therapy. We conclude that the combination of 5-FU and Mito-FF exerts potent antineoplastic activity against gastric cancer cells, primarily by promoting ROS generation and suppressing the activities of antioxidant enzymes.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Stomach Neoplasms
/
Dipeptides
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Fluorouracil
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Mitochondria
Limits:
Animals
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Humans
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Male
Language:
En
Journal:
Int J Mol Sci
Year:
2020
Document type:
Article