Loss of compensatory pro-survival and anti-apoptotic modulator, IKK?, sensitizes ovarian cancer cells to CHEK1 loss through an increased level of p21.
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ABSTRACT: Ovarian cancer (OC) is extremely heterogeneous, implying that therapeutic strategies should be specifically designed based on molecular characteristics of an individual's tumor. Previously, we showed that IKK? promotes invasion and metastasis in a subset of OCs. Here, we identified CHEK1 as an IKK?-dependent lethal gene from shRNA kinome library screen. In subsequent pharmacological intervention studies, the co-inhibition of IKK? and CHEK1 was more effective in killing OC cells than single treatment. At the molecular level, co-inhibition dramatically decreased pro-survival proteins, but increased proteins involved in DNA damage and apoptosis. IKK?-knockdown increased p21 levels, while overexpression of wild-type IKK?, but not a kinase dead IKK? mutant decreased p21 levels. We further demonstrated that the depletion of p21 rendered OC cells more resistant to cell death induced by co-inhibition of IKK? and CHEK1. In conclusion, we revealed a novel interplay between IKK?, CHEK1 and p21 signaling in survival of OC. Our study provides a rationale for the clinical development of specific IKK? inhibitor and for usage of IKK? as an exploratory marker for resistance to CHEK1 inhibitors in the clinic. The interplay provides one potential explanation as to why very few clinical responses were achieved in patients treated with single-agent CHEK1 inhibitors.
SUBMITTER: Kim MK
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4350339 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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