Subverting ER-stress towards apoptosis by nelfinavir and curcumin coexposure augments docetaxel efficacy in castration resistant prostate cancer cells.

ABSTRACT: Despite its side-effects, docetaxel (DTX) remains a first-line treatment against castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Therefore, strategies to increase its anti-tumor efficacy and decrease its side effects are critically needed. Targeting of the constitutive endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in cancer cells is being investigated as a chemosensitization approach. We hypothesized that the simultaneous induction of ER-stress and suppression of PI3K/AKT survival pathway will be a more effective approach. In a CRPC cell line, C4-2B, we observed significant (p<0.005) enhancement of DTX-induced cytotoxicity following coexposure to thapsigargin and an AKT-inhibitor. However, since these two agents are not clinically approved, we investigated whether a combination of nelfinavir (NFR) and cu

SUBMITTER: Mathur A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4133210 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature