Saracatinib (AZD0530) is a potent modulator of ABCB1-mediated multidrug resistance in vitro and in vivo.

Saracatinib, a highly selective, dual Src/Abl kinase inhibitor, is currently in a Phase II clinical trial for the treatment of ovarian cancer. In our study, we investigated the effect of saracatinib on the reversal of multidrug resistance (MDR) induced by ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters in vitro and in vivo. Our results showed that saracatinib significantly enhanced the cytotoxicity of ABCB1 substrate drugs in ABCB1 overexpressing HeLa/v200, MCF-7/adr and HEK293/ABCB1 cells, an effect that was stronger than that of gefitinib, whereas it had no effect on the cytotoxicity of the substrates in ABCC1 overexpressing HL-60/adr cells and its parental sensitive cells. Additionally, saracatinib significantly increased the doxorubicin (Dox) and Rho 123 accumulation in HeLa/v200 and MCF-7/adr cells, whereas it had no effect on HeLa and MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, saracatinib stimulated the ATPase activity and inhibited photolabeling of ABCB1 with [(125)I]-iodoarylazidoprazosin in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, the homology modeling predicted the binding conformation of saracatinib within the large hydrophobic drug-binding cavity of human ABCB1. However, neither the expression level of ABCB1 nor the phosphorylation level of Akt was altered at the reversal concentrations of saracatinib. Importantly, saracatinib significantly enhanced the effect of paclitaxel against ABCB1-overexpressing HeLa/v200 cancer cell xenografts in nude mice. In conclusion, saracatinib reverses ABCB1-mediated MDR in vitro and in vivo by directly inhibiting ABCB1 transport function, without altering ABCB1 expression or AKT phosphorylation. These findings may be helpful to attenuate the effect of MDR by combining saracatinib with other chemotherapeutic drugs in the clinic.

Neratinib reverses ATP-binding cassette B1-mediated chemotherapeutic drug resistance in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo.

Neratinib, an irreversible inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor and human epidermal receptor 2, is in phase III clinical trials for patients with human epidermal receptor 2-positive, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. The objective of this study was to explore the ability of neratinib to reverse tumor multidrug resistance attributable to overexpression of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters. Our results showed that neratinib remarkably enhanced the sensitivity of ABCB1-overexpressing cells to ABCB1 substrates. It is noteworthy that neratinib augmented the effect of chemotherapeutic agents in inhibiting the growth of ABCB1-overexpressing primary leukemia blasts and KBv200 cell xenografts in nude mice. Furthermore, neratinib increased doxorubicin accumulation in ABCB1-overexpressing cell lines and Rhodamine 123 accumulation in ABCB1-overexpressing cell lines and primary leukemia blasts. Neratinib stimulated the ATPase activity of ABCB1 at low concentrations but inhibited it at high concentrations. Likewise, neratinib inhibited the photolabeling of ABCB1 with [(125)I]iodoarylazidoprazosin in a concentration-dependent manner (IC(50) = 0.24 µM). Neither the expression of ABCB1 at the mRNA and protein levels nor the phosphorylation of Akt was affected by neratinib at reversal concentrations. Docking simulation results were consistent with the binding conformation of neratinib within the large cavity of the transmembrane region of ABCB1, which provides computational support for the cross-reactivity of tyrosine kinase inhibitors with human ABCB1. In conclusion, neratinib can reverse ABCB1-mediated multidrug resistance in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo by inhibiting its transport function.

Axitinib targeted cancer stemlike cells to enhance efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs via inhibiting the drug transport function of ABCG2.

Stemlike cells have been isolated by their ability to efflux Hoechst 33342 dye and are called the side population (SP). We evaluated the effect of axitinib on targeting cancer stemlike cells and enhancing the efficacy of chemotherapeutical agents. We found that axitinib enhanced the cytotoxicity of topotecan and mitoxantrone in SP cells sorted from human lung cancer A549 cells and increased cell apoptosis induced by chemotherapeutical agents. Moreover, axitinib particularly inhibited the function of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding cassette subfamily G member 2 (ABCG2) and reversed ABCG2-mediated multidrug resistance (MDR) in vitro. However, no significant reversal effect was observed in ABCB1-, ABCC1- or lung resistance-related protein (LRP)-mediated MDR. Furthermore, in both sensitive and MDR cancer cells axitinib neither altered the expression of ABCG2 at the mRNA or protein levels nor blocked the phosphorylation of AKT and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2. In nude mice bearing ABCG2-overexpressing S1-M1-80 xenografts, axitinib significantly enhanced the antitumor activity of topotecan without causing additional toxicity. Taken together, these data suggest that axitinib particularly targets cancer stemlike cells and reverses ABCG2-mediated drug resistance by inhibiting the transporter activity of ABCG2.

Enhancing chemosensitivity in ABCB1- and ABCG2-overexpressing cells and cancer stem-like cells by an Aurora kinase inhibitor CCT129202.

Imidazopyridine CCT129202 is an inhibitor of Aurora kinase activity and displays a favorable antineoplastic effect in preclinical studies. Here, we investigated the enhanced effect of CCT129202 on the cytotoxicity of chemotherapeutic drugs in multidrug resistant (MDR) cells with overexpression of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters and cancer stem-like cells. CCT129202 of more than 90% cell survival concentration significantly enhanced the cytotoxicity of substrate drugs and increased the intracellular accumulations of doxorubicin and rhodamine 123 in ABCB1 and ABCG2 overexpressing cells, while no effect was found on parental sensitive cells. Interestingly, CCT129202 also potentiated the sensitivity of cancer stem-like cells to doxorubicin. Importantly, CCT129202 increased the inhibitory effect of vincristine and paclitaxel on ABCB1 overexpressing KBv200 cell xenografts in nude mice and human esophageal cancer tissue overexpressing ABCB1 ex vivo, respectively. Furthermore, the ATPase activity of ABCB1 was inhibited by CCT129202. Homology modeling predicted the binding conformation of CCT129202 within the large hydrophobic cavity of ABCB1. On the other hand, CCT129202 neither apparently altered the expression levels of ABCB1 and ABCG2 nor inhibited the activity of Aurora kinases in MDR cells under the concentration of reversal MDR. In conclusion, CCT129202 significantly reversed ABCB1- and ABCG2-mediated MDR in vitro, in vivo and ex vivo by inhibiting the function of their transporters and enhanced the eradication of cancer stem-like cells by chemotherapeutic agents. CCT129202 may be a candidate as MDR reversal agent for antineoplastic combination therapy and merits further clinical investigation.

Cyclosporine, prednisone, and high-dose immunoglobulin treatment of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma refractory to prior CHOP or CHOP-like regimen.

Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) is a rare, distinct subtype of peripheral T-cell lymphoma, possessing an aggressive course and poor prognosis with no standard therapy. Twelve patients who have failed at least two initial CHOP or CHOP-like regimens were enrolled in this study and treated with individualized cyclosporine (CsA), prednisone (PDN), and monthly, high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (HDIVIG). The dose of CsA was adjusted individually based on the blood trough concentration of CsA and renal function. All patients were examined for response, toxicity and survival. The most significant toxicities (≥ grade 2) were infection (16.7%), renal insufficiency (8.3%), hypertension (8.3%), diabetes (8.3%) and insomnia (16.7%). Discontinuation of treatment occurred in one patient (8.3%) due to grade 3 renal toxicity and subsequent grade 4 pulmonary infection. Treatment-related death was not observed. The overall response rate was 75.0% (complete response, 33.3%; partial response, 41.7%). With a median follow-up of 25.5 months, the median duration of response was 20 months (range, 12 to 49 months) and the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 25.5 months (range, 10 to 56 months). The 2-year PFS rate was 81.5%. Our findings indicate the combination of CsA, PDN and HDIVIG is an effective salvage regimen for refractory or relapsed AITL with predictable and manageable toxicity.

Lectin from Agrocybe aegerita as a glycophenotype probe for evaluation of progression and survival in colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Agrocybe aegerita Lectin (AAL) has been identified to have high affinity for sulfated and α2-3- linked sialic acid glycoconjugates, especially the sulfated and sialyl TF (Thomsen-Friedenreich) disaccharide. This study was conducted to investigate the clinicopathological and prognostic value of AAL in identifying aberrant glycosylation in colorectal cancer (CRC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Glycoconjugate expression in 59 CRC tissues were detected using AAL-histochemistry. Clinicopathological associates of expression were analyzed with chi- square test or Fisher's exact test. Relationships between expression and the various clinicopathological parameters was estimated using Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression models. RESULTS: AAL specific glycoconjugate expression was significantly higher in tumor than corresponding normal tissues (66.1% and 46.1%, respectively, p=0.037), correlating with depth of invasion (p=0.015) and TNM stage (p=0.024). Patients with lower expression levels had a significantly higher survival rate than those with higher expression (p=0.046 by log rank test and p=0.047 by Breslow test for overall survival; p=0.054 by log rank test and P=0.038 by Breslow test for progress free survival). A marginally significant association was found between AAL specific glycoconjugate expression and overall survival by univariate Cox regression analysis (p=0.059). CONCLUSIONS: Lower AAL specific glycoconjugate expression is a significant favorable prognostic factor for overall and progress free survival in CRC. This is the first report about the employment of AAL for histochemical analysis of cancer tissues. The binding characteristics of AAL means it has potential to become a powerful tool for the glycan investigation and clinical application.

BIRB796, the inhibitor of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, enhances the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents in ABCB1 overexpression cells.

ATP-binding-cassette family membrane proteins play an important role in multidrug resistance. In this study, we investigated BIRB796, an orally active inhibitor of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, reversed MDR induced by ABCB1, ABCG2 and ABCC1. Our results showed that BIRB796 could reverse ABCB1-mediated MDR in both the drug selected and transfected ABCB1-overexpressing cell models, but did not enhance the efficacy of substrate-chemotherapeutical agents in ABCC1 or ABCG2 overexpression cells and their parental sensitive cells. Furthermore, BIRB796 increased the intracellular accumulation of the ABCB1 substrates, such as rhodamine 123 and doxorubicin. Moreover, BIRB796 bidirectionally mediated the ATPase activity of ABCB1, stimulating at low concentration, inhibiting at high concentration. However, BIRB796 did not alter the expression of ABCB1 both at protein and mRNA level. The down-regulation of p38 by siRNA neither affected the expression of ABCB1 nor the cytotoxic effect of paclitaxel on KBV200. The binding model of BIRB796 within the large cavity of the transmembrane region of ABCB1 may form the basis for future lead optimization studies. Importantly, BIRB796 also enhanced the effect of paclitaxel on the inhibition of growth of the ABCB1-overexpressing KBV200 cell xenografts in nude mice. Overall, we conclude that BIRB796 reverses ABCB1-mediated MDR by directly inhibiting its transport function. These findings may be useful for cancer combinational therapy with BIRB796 in the clinic.

Effect of dicycloplatin, a novel platinum chemotherapeutical drug, on inhibiting cell growth and inducing cell apoptosis.

Dicycloplatin, a new supramolecular platinum-based antitumor drug, has been approved by the State Food and Administration (SFDA) of China. In this study, we investigated the anticancer activity of dicycloplatin in cancer cells and signaling pathways involved in dicycloplatin-induced apoptosis. Dicycloplatin inhibited the proliferation of cancer cells and increased the percentage of apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner. Besides, some apoptosis related events were observed after treatment with dicycloplatin, including increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS), collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm), release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria to the cytosol, upregulation of p53, which were accompanied by activation of caspase-9, caspase-3, caspase-8, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage in a concentration-dependent manner. The role of apoptosis in dicycloplatin-mediated cell death was further confirmed by the concomitant treatment with caspase-8 or caspase-9 inhibitors, which inhibited apoptosis and PARP cleavage. Intracellular glutathione (GSH) was also found to inhibit the cytotoxic effect of dicycloplatin. In conclusion, these findings suggest that dicycloplatin induces apoptosis through ROS stress-mediated death receptor pathway and mitochondrial pathway which is similar to carboplatin.

Apatinib (YN968D1) enhances the efficacy of conventional chemotherapeutical drugs in side population cells and ABCB1-overexpressing leukemia cells.

P-glycoprotein (P-gp, ABCB1) overexpression and enrichment of stem-like cells are linked to poor prognosis in tumor patients. In this study, we investigated the effect of apatinib, an oral multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) on enhancing the efficacy of conventional anticancer drugs in side population (SP) cells and ABCB1-overexpressing leukemia cells in vitro, in vivo and ex vivo. Our results showed that apatinib significantly enhanced the cytotoxicity and cell apoptosis induced by doxorubicin in SP cells sorted from K562 cells. Furthermore, apatinib also strongly reversed multidrug resistance (MDR) in K562/ADR cells, and the primary leukemia blasts overexpressing ABCB1 while showed no synergistic interactions with chemotherapeutic agents in MRP1-, MRP4-, MRP7- and LRP-overexpressing cells. Apatinib treatment markedly increased the intracellular accumulation of doxorubicin and rhodamine 123 in K562/ADR cells and the accumulation of rhodamine 123 in the primary leukemia blasts with ABCB1 overexpression. Apatinib stimulated the ATPase activity of P-gp in a dose-dependent manner but did not alter the expression of ABCB1 at both mRNA and protein levels. The phosphorylation level of AKT and ERK1/2 remained unchanged after apatinib treatment in both sensitive and MDR cells. Importantly, apatinib significantly enhanced the antitumor activity of doxorubicin in nude mice bearing K562/ADR xenografts. Taken together, our results suggest that apatinib could target to SP cells and ABCB1-overexpressing leukemia cells to enhance the efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs. These findings should be useful for the combination of apatinib and chemotherapeutic agents in the clinic.