Optimized two-dimensional gel electrophoresis in an alkaline pH range improves the identification of intracellular CFDA-cisplatin-protein adducts in ovarian cancer cells.

Intracellular binding of cisplatin to proteins has been associated with acquired resistance to chemotherapy. In our previous study we established an analytical method for the identification of intracellular cisplatin-binding proteins. The method used a fluorescent carboxyfluorescein-diacetate-labeled cisplatin analogue (CFDA-cisplatin), two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) and mass spectrometry, which allows detecting and identifying intracellular CFDA-cisplatin-containing protein adducts in the acidic pH range (pH 4-7). Based on this analytical method we extended the identification of intracellular cisplatin-protein adducts to the alkaline pH range (pH 6-10) giving chance to discover new important binding partners. 2DE analysis of alkaline proteins is challenging due to the difficult separation of basic proteins during the isoelectric focusing (IEF). The establishment of an optimized IEF protocol for basic proteins enabled us to identify several intracellular CFDA-cisplatin-binding proteins including enzymes of the glucose and serine metabolism like alpha enolase and D-3-phosphoglycerate 1-dehydrogenase.

Key Players of Cisplatin Resistance: Towards a Systems Pharmacology Approach.

The major obstacle in the clinical use of the antitumor drug cisplatin is inherent and acquired resistance. Typically, cisplatin resistance is not restricted to a single mechanism demanding for a systems pharmacology approach to understand a whole cell's reaction to the drug. In this study, the cellular transcriptome of untreated and cisplatin-treated A549 non-small cell lung cancer cells and their cisplatin-resistant sub-line A549rCDDP2000 was screened with a whole genome array for relevant gene candidates. By combining statistical methods with available gene annotations and without a previously defined hypothesis HRas, MAPK14 (p38), CCL2, DOK1 and PTK2B were identified as genes possibly relevant for cisplatin resistance. These and related genes were further validated on transcriptome (qRT-PCR) and proteome (Western blot) level to select candidates contributing to resistance. HRas, p38, CCL2, DOK1, PTK2B and JNK3 were integrated into a model of resistance-associated signalling alterations describing differential gene and protein expression between cisplatin-sensitive and -resistant cells in reaction to cisplatin exposure.

A fluorescent oxaliplatin derivative for investigation of oxaliplatin resistance using imaging techniques.

Oxaliplatin is the backbone of chemotherapy for advanced colorectal cancer and undergoes clinical trials for treatment of other tumour entities. However, acquired resistance is a major hurdle. Confocal microscopy is a useful tool to get an insight into the mechanisms of resistance but it requires fluorescent compounds. This work describes the synthesis of the novel oxaliplatin derivative (CFDA-oxPt) featuring 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein diacetate and evaluation of its applicability for the investigation of oxaliplatin resistance using imaging techniques. CFDA-oxPt was somewhat less cytotoxic than oxaliplatin in sensitive colorectal cancer cells, with EC50 values of 26 and 5.8 µM, respectively. Nevertheless, the potency of the novel complex was significantly decreased to the EC50 of 711.2 µM in oxaliplatin-resistant cells, as was the case for oxaliplatin (EC50 = 81 µM). After incubation, both nuclear and cytosolic localisation was observed. Over time CFDA-oxPt concentrated near the cell membrane and in the vesicular structures, in contrast to the platinum-free label, which was rapidly excreted. These findings suggest that CFDA-oxPt can be used to study oxaliplatin resistance and open the route to new fluorophore-tethered oxaliplatin derivatives.

Optimized sample preparation strategy for the analysis of low molecular mass adducts of a fluorescent cisplatin analogue in cancer cell lines by CE-dual-LIF.

Pt-based anticancer drugs, such as cisplatin, are known to undergo several (bio-)chemical transformation steps after administration. Hydrolysis and adduct formation with small nucleophiles and larger proteins are their most relevant reactions on the way to the final reaction site (DNA), but there are still many open questions regarding the identity and pharmacological relevance of various proposed adducts and intermediates. Furthermore, the role of buffer components or additives, which are inevitably added to samples during any type of analytical measurement, has been frequently neglected in previous studies. Here, we report on adduct formation reactions of the fluorescent cisplatin analogue carboxyfluorescein diacetate platinum (CFDA-Pt) in commonly used buffers and cell culture medium. Our results indicate that chelation reactions with noninnocent buffers (e.g., Tris) and components of the cell culture/cell lysis medium must be taken into account when interpreting results. Adduct formation kinetics was followed up to 60 h at nanomolar concentrations of CFDA-Pt by using CE-LIF. CE-MS enabled the online identification of such unexpected adducts down to the nanomolar concentration range. By using an optimized sample preparation strategy, unwanted adducts can be avoided and several fluorescent adducts of CFDA-Pt are detectable in sensitive and cisplatin-resistant cancer cell lines. By processing samples rapidly after incubation, we could even identify the initial, but transient, Pt species in the cells as deacetylated CFDA-Pt with unaltered complexing environment at Pt. Overall, the proposed procedure enables a very sensitive and accurate analysis of low molecular mass Pt species in cancer cells, involving a fast CE-LIF detection within 5 min.

Combination of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and a fluorescent carboxyfluorescein-diacetate-labeled cisplatin analogue allows the identification of intracellular cisplatin-protein adducts.

Cisplatin is one of the most widely used anticancer agents, but a major problem for successful chemotherapy is the development of drug resistance of tumor cells against cisplatin. Resistance to cisplatin is a multifactorial problem. A method to detect and identify intracellular cisplatin-protein adducts was developed using a fluorescent carboxyfluorescein-diacetate-labeled cisplatin analogue (CFDA-cisplatin), 2DE, and ESI-MS/MS. We identified several CFDA-cisplatin-protein adducts including members of the protein disulfide isomerase family (PDI). These are the first results of the detection of intracellular CFDA-cisplatin-protein adducts, which may help to understand the resistance mechanism of cisplatin.

Contribution of intracellular ATP to cisplatin resistance of tumor cells.

Decreased cellular accumulation of cisplatin is a frequently observed mechanism of resistance to the drug. Beside passive diffusion, several cellular proteins using ATP hydrolysis as an energy source are assumed to be involved in cisplatin transport in and out of the cell. This investigation aimed at clarifying the contribution of intracellular ATP as an indicator of energy-dependent transport to cisplatin resistance using the A2780 human ovarian adenocarcinoma cell line and its cisplatin-resistant variant A2780cis. Depletion of intracellular ATP with oligomycin significantly decreased cellular platinum accumulation (measured by flameless atomic absorption spectrometry) in sensitive but not in resistant cells, and did not affect cisplatin efflux in both cell lines. Inhibition of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase with ouabain reduced platinum accumulation in A2780 cells but to a lesser extent compared with oligomycin. Western blot analysis revealed lower expression of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase α(1) subunit in resistant cells compared with sensitive counterparts. The basal intracellular ATP level (determined using a bioluminescence-based assay) was significantly higher in A2780cis cells than in A2780 cells. Our results highlight the importance of ATP-dependent transport, among other processes mediated by Na(+),K(+)-ATPase, for cisplatin influx in sensitive cells. Cellular platinum accumulation in resistant cells is reduced and less dependent on energy sources, which may partly result from Na(+),K(+)-ATPase downregulation. Our data suggest the involvement of other ATP-dependent processes beside those regulated by Na(+),K(+)-ATPase. Higher basal ATP level in cisplatin-resistant cells, which appears to be a consequence of enhanced mitochondrial ATP production, may represent a survival mechanism established during development of resistance.

Effect of reactivity on cellular accumulation and cytotoxicity of oxaliplatin analogues.

The purpose of this study was to systematically investigate the relationships between reactivity, cellular accumulation, and cytotoxicity of a panel of oxaliplatin analogues with different leaving groups in human carcinoma cells. The reactivity of the complexes towards the nucleotides 2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-monophosphate and 2'-deoxyadenosine 5'-monophosphate was studied using capillary electrophoresis. Cellular accumulation and cytotoxicity were measured in an oxaliplatin-sensitive and oxaliplatin-resistant ileocecal colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line pair (HCT-8/HCT-8ox). Platinum concentrations were determined by flameless atomic absorption spectrometry. The 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to assess cytotoxicity. Early cellular platinum accumulation was predominantly affected by lipophilicity. A relationship between reactivity and cellular accumulation was observed for three of four platinum complexes investigated, whereas the most lipophilic oxaliplatin analogue was an exception. Increased reactivity and reduced lipophilicity were associated with high cytotoxic activity. Resistance was influenced by lipophilicity but not by reactivity. The observed relationships may help in the design of analogues with high antitumoral activity in oxaliplatin-sensitive as well as oxaliplatin-resistant cells.

Cisplatin Protein Binding Partners and Their Relevance for Platinum Drug Sensitivity.

Cisplatin is a widely used drug in the treatment of various solid tumors, such as ovarian cancer. However, while the acquired resistance significantly limits the success of therapy, some tumors, such as colorectal cancer, are intrinsically insensitive to cisplatin. Only a small amount of intracellular platinum binds to the target-genomic DNA. The fate of the remaining drug is largely obscure. This work aimed to identify the cytosolic protein binding partners of cisplatin in ovarian and colorectal cancer cells and to evaluate their relevance for cell sensitivity to cisplatin and oxaliplatin. Using the fluorescent cisplatin analog BODIPY-cisplatin, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, and mass spectrometry, we identified the protein binding partners in A2780 and cisplatin-resistant A2780cis ovarian carcinoma, as well as in HCT-8 and oxaliplatin-resistant HCT-8ox colorectal cell lines. Vimentin, only identified in ovarian cancer cells; growth factor receptor-bound protein 2, only identified in colorectal cancer cells; and glutathione-S-transferase π, identified in all four cell lines, were further investigated. The effect of pharmacological inhibition and siRNA-mediated knockdown on cytotoxicity was studied to assess the relevance of these binding partners. The silencing of glutathione-S-transferase π significantly sensitized intrinsically resistant HCT-8 and HCT-8ox cells to cisplatin, suggesting a possible involvement of the protein in the resistance of colorectal cancer cells to the drug. The inhibition of vimentin with FiVe1 resulted in a significant sensitization of A2780 and A2780cis cells to cisplatin, revealing new possibilities for improving the chemosensitivity of ovarian cancer cells.

Citalopram-induced pathways regulation and tentative treatment-outcome-predicting biomarkers in lymphoblastoid cell lines from depression patients.

Antidepressant therapy is still associated with delays in symptomatic improvement and low response rates. Incomplete understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying antidepressant effects hampered the identification of objective biomarkers for antidepressant response. In this work, we studied transcriptome-wide expression followed by pathway analysis in lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) derived from 17 patients documented for response to SSRI antidepressants from the Munich Antidepressant Response Signatures (MARS) study upon short-term incubation (24 and 48 h) with citalopram. Candidate transcripts were further validated with qPCR in MARS LCLs from responders (n = 33) vs. non-responders (n = 36) and afterward in an independent cohort of treatment-resistant patients (n = 20) vs. first-line responders (n = 24) from the STAR*D study. In MARS cohort we observed significant associations of GAD1 (glutamate decarboxylase 1; p = 0.045), TBC1D9 (TBC1 Domain Family Member 9; p = 0.014-0.021) and NFIB (nuclear factor I B; p = 0.015-0.025) expression with response status, remission status and improvement in depression scale, respectively. Pathway analysis of citalopram-altered gene expression indicated response-status-dependent transcriptional reactions. Whereas in clinical responders neural function pathways were primarily up- or downregulated after incubation with citalopram, deregulated pathways in non-responders LCLs mainly involved cell adhesion and immune response. Results from the STAR*D study showed a marginal association of treatment-resistant depression with NFIB (p = 0.068) but not with GAD1 (p = 0.23) and TBC1D9 (p = 0.27). Our results propose the existence of distinct pathway regulation mechanisms in responders vs. non-responders and suggest GAD1, TBC1D9, and NFIB as tentative predictors for clinical response, full remission, and improvement in depression scale, respectively, with only a weak overlap in predictors of different therapy outcome phenotypes.

Non-Phosphorylatable PEA-15 Sensitises SKOV-3 Ovarian Cancer Cells to Cisplatin.

The efficacy of cisplatin-based chemotherapy in ovarian cancer is often limited by the development of drug resistance. In most ovarian cancer cells, cisplatin activates extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2) signalling. Phosphoprotein enriched in astrocytes (PEA-15) is a ubiquitously expressed protein, capable of sequestering ERK1/2 in the cytoplasm and inhibiting cell proliferation. This and other functions of PEA-15 are regulated by its phosphorylation status. In this study, the relevance of PEA-15 phosphorylation state for cisplatin sensitivity of ovarian carcinoma cells was examined. The results of MTT-assays indicated that overexpression of PEA-15AA (a non-phosphorylatable variant) sensitised SKOV-3 cells to cisplatin. Phosphomimetic PEA-15DD did not affect cell sensitivity to the drug. While PEA-15DD facilitates nuclear translocation of activated ERK1/2, PEA-15AA acts to sequester the kinase in the cytoplasm as shown by Western blot. Microarray data indicated deregulation of thirteen genes in PEA-15AA-transfected cells compared to non-transfected or PEA-15DD-transfected variants. Data derived from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) showed that the expression of seven of these genes including EGR1 (early growth response protein 1) and FLNA (filamin A) significantly correlated with the therapy outcome in cisplatin-treated cancer patients. Further analysis indicated the relevance of nuclear factor erythroid 2related factor 2/antioxidant response element (Nrf2/ARE) signalling for the favourable effect of PEA-15AA on cisplatin sensitivity. The results warrant further evaluation of the PEA-15 phosphorylation status as a potential candidate biomarker of response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

Altered localisation of the copper efflux transporters ATP7A and ATP7B associated with cisplatin resistance in human ovarian carcinoma cells.

BACKGROUND: Copper homeostasis proteins ATP7A and ATP7B are assumed to be involved in the intracellular transport of cisplatin. The aim of the present study was to assess the relevance of sub cellular localisation of these transporters for acquired cisplatin resistance in vitro. For this purpose, localisation of ATP7A and ATP7B in A2780 human ovarian carcinoma cells and their cisplatin-resistant variant, A2780cis, was investigated. METHODS: Sub cellular localisation of ATP7A and ATP7B in sensitive and resistant cells was investigated using confocal fluorescence microscopy after immunohistochemical staining. Co-localisation experiments with a cisplatin analogue modified with a carboxyfluorescein-diacetate residue were performed. Cytotoxicity of the fluorescent cisplatin analogue in A2780 and A2780cis cells was determined using an MTT-based assay. The significance of differences was analysed using Student's t test or Mann-Whitney test as appropriate, p values of < 0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: In the sensitive cells, both transporters are mainly localised in the trans-Golgi network, whereas they are sequestrated in more peripherally located vesicles in the resistant cells. Altered localisation of ATP7A and ATP7B in A2780cis cells is likely to be a consequence of major abnormalities in intracellular protein trafficking related to a reduced lysosomal compartment in this cell line. Changes in sub cellular localisation of ATP7A and ATP7B may facilitate sequestration of cisplatin in the vesicular structures of A2780cis cells, which may prevent drug binding to genomic DNA and thereby contribute to cisplatin resistance. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that alterations in sub cellular localisation of transport proteins may contribute to cisplatin resistance in vitro. Investigation of intracellular protein localisation in primary tumour cell cultures and tumour tissues may help to develop markers of clinically relevant cisplatin resistance. Detection of resistant tumours in patients may in turn enable individualization of the chemotherapy in the early stage of treatment.

Cisplatin resistance in non-small cell lung cancer cells is associated with an abrogation of cisplatin-induced G2/M cell cycle arrest.

The efficacy of cisplatin-based chemotherapy in cancer is limited by the occurrence of innate and acquired drug resistance. In order to better understand the mechanisms underlying acquired cisplatin resistance, we have compared the adenocarcinoma-derived non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell line A549 and its cisplatin-resistant sub-line A549rCDDP2000 with regard to cisplatin resistance mechanisms including cellular platinum accumulation, DNA-adduct formation, cell cycle alterations, apoptosis induction and activation of key players of DNA damage response. In A549rCDDP2000 cells, a cisplatin-induced G2/M cell cycle arrest was lacking and apoptosis was reduced compared to A549 cells, although equitoxic cisplatin concentrations resulted in comparable platinum-DNA adduct levels. These differences were accompanied by changes in the expression of proteins involved in DNA damage response. In A549 cells, cisplatin exposure led to a significantly higher expression of genes coding for proteins mediating G2/M arrest and apoptosis (mouse double minute 2 homolog (MDM2), xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group C (XPC), stress inducible protein (SIP) and p21) compared to resistant cells. This was underlined by significantly higher protein levels of phosphorylated Ataxia telangiectasia mutated (pAtm) and p53 in A549 cells compared to their respective untreated control. The results were compiled in a preliminary model of resistance-associated signaling alterations. In conclusion, these findings suggest that acquired resistance of NSCLC cells against cisplatin is the consequence of altered signaling leading to reduced G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.

Transporter-Mediated Interaction Between Platinum Drugs and Sorafenib at the Cellular Level.

Combining the multikinase inhibitor sorafenib with the platinum-based chemotherapy of solid tumors was expected to improve treatment outcome. However, in many clinical trials, no benefit from sorafenib addition to the platinum-containing regimen could be demonstrated. Moreover, in some studies, decreased survival of ovarian cancer patients as well as non-small cell lung cancer patients with squamous cell histology was observed. The aim of this study was to investigate the cellular mechanisms of the pharmacological interaction between platinum drugs and sorafenib in different cancer cell lines. The interaction was characterized by combination index analysis, platinum accumulation and DNA platination were determined using flameless atomic absorption spectrometry, and protein expression was assessed with Western blot. In the sensitive A2780 ovarian carcinoma and H520 squamous cell lung carcinoma cell lines, sorafenib induced downregulation of Na+,K+-ATPase. In A2780 cells, the kinase inhibitor also decreased the expression of copper transporter 1 (CTR1). As a result, sorafenib treatment led to a diminished cellular accumulation of cisplatin and carboplatin and to a decrease in DNA platination in these cell lines. This was not the case in the cisplatin-resistant A2780cis ovarian carcinoma and H522 lung adenocarcinoma cell lines featuring lower basal expression of the above-mentioned transporters. In all cell lines studied, an antagonistic interaction between platinum drugs and sorafenib was found. Our results suggest that sorafenib impairs cisplatin and carboplatin uptake through downregulation of CTR1 and/or Na+,K+-ATPase resulting in reduction of DNA platination. This effect is not observed in cancer cells with defects in platinum accumulation.

Structure-toxicity relationships for different types of dinuclear platinum complexes.

Nine structurally distinct dinuclear platinum complexes have been evaluated in a novel model system for the investigation of renal epithelial toxicity of platinum drugs. The results showed that these compounds are toxic when applied at the basolateral side of renal epithelia, whereas their toxic effects on the apical side are negligible. Such a difference in toxicity of the complexes has been found to result from their poor uptake through the apical membrane, as compared to the basolateral membrane. Toxicity of the compounds on the basolateral side varies depending on their structure. Structure-toxicity relationships for the group of complexes with rigid ligands and for the group of complexes with flexible ligands are discussed. Among the dinuclear complexes with rigid ligands, sterically hindered complexes are less toxic, due to their poor uptake and low reactivity towards glutathione. Within the group of complexes with flexible ligands, cis-configured isomers are more toxic than their trans-counterparts.

Platinum-based drugs: past, present and future.

Platinum-based drugs cisplatin, carboplatin and oxaliplatin are widely used in the therapy of human neoplasms. Their clinical success is, however, limited due to severe side effects and intrinsic or acquired resistance to the treatment. Much effort has been put into the development of new platinum anticancer complexes, but none of them has reached worldwide clinical application so far. Nedaplatin, lobaplatin and heptaplatin received only regional approval. Some new platinum complexes and platinum drug formulations are undergoing clinical trials. Here, we review the main classes of new platinum drug candidates, such as sterically hindered complexes, monofunctional platinum drugs, complexes with biologically active ligands, trans-configured and polynuclear platinum complexes, platinum(IV) prodrugs and platinum-based drug delivery systems. For each class of compounds, a detailed overview of the mechanism of action is given, the cytotoxicity is compared to that of the clinically used platinum drugs, and the clinical perspectives are discussed. A critical analysis of lessons to be learned is presented. Finally, a general outlook regarding future directions in the field of new platinum drugs is given.