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Simultaneous gene silencing of Bcl-2, XIAP and Survivin re-sensitizes pancreatic cancer cells towards apoptosis.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma shows a distinct apoptosis resistance, which contributes significantly to the aggressive nature of this tumor and constrains the effectiveness of new therapeutic strategies. Apoptosis resistance is determined by the net balance of the cells pro-and anti-apoptotic "control mechanisms". Numerous dysregulated anti-apoptotic genes have been identified in pancreatic cancer and seem to contribute to the high anti-apoptotic buffering capacity. We aimed to compare the benefit of simultaneous gene silencing (SGS) of several candidate genes with conventional gene silencing of single genes. METHODS: From literature search we identified the anti-apoptotic genes XIAP, Survivin and Bcl-2 as commonly upregulated in pancreatic cancer. We performed SGS and silencing of single candidate genes using siRNA molecules in two pancreatic cancer cell lines. Effectiveness of SGS was assessed by qRT-PCR and western blotting. Apoptosis induction was measured by flow cytometry and caspase activation. RESULTS: Simultaneous gene silencing reduced expression of the three target genes effectively. Compared to silencing of a single target or control, SGS of these genes resulted in a significant higher induction of apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study we performed a subliminal silencing of different anti-apoptotic target genes simultaneously. Compared to silencing of single target genes, SGS had a significant higher impact on apoptosis induction in pancreatic cancer cells. Thereby, we give further evidence for the concept of an anti-apoptotic buffering capacity of pancreatic cancer cells.

SUBMITTER: Ruckert F

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2912871 | biostudies-other | 2010

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Simultaneous gene silencing of Bcl-2, XIAP and Survivin re-sensitizes pancreatic cancer cells towards apoptosis.

Rückert Felix F Samm Nicole N Lehner Anne-Kathrin AK Saeger Hans-Detlev HD Grützmann Robert R Pilarsky Christian C

BMC cancer 20100720

<h4>Background</h4>Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma shows a distinct apoptosis resistance, which contributes significantly to the aggressive nature of this tumor and constrains the effectiveness of new therapeutic strategies. Apoptosis resistance is determined by the net balance of the cells pro-and anti-apoptotic "control mechanisms". Numerous dysregulated anti-apoptotic genes have been identified in pancreatic cancer and seem to contribute to the high anti-apoptotic buffering capacity. We aime ...[more]

PMID: 20646298

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Project description:BackgroundProstate cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death in men worldwide. Survivin is a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) protein family that is expressed in the majority of human tumors including prostate cancer, but is barely detectable in terminally differentiated normal cells. Downregulation of survivin could sensitize prostate cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents in vitro and in vivo. Selenium is an essential trace element. Several studies have shown that selenium compounds inhibit the growth of prostate cancer cells. The objective of this study is to investigate whether survivin gene silencing in conjunction with selenium treatment could enhance the therapeutic efficacy for prostate cancer and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.MethodsExpression of survivin was analyzed in a collection of normal and malignant prostatic tissues by immunohistochemical staining. In vitro studies were conducted in PC-3M, C4-2B, and 22Rv1 prostate cancer cells. The effect of selenium on survivin expression was analyzed by Western blotting and semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Survivin gene knockdown was carried out by transfecting cells with a short hairpin RNA (shRNA) designed against survivin. Cell proliferation was quantitated by the 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)- 2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide (MTT) assay and apoptosis by propidium iodide staining followed by flow cytometry analysis. Finally, in vivo tumor growth assay was performed by establishing PC-3M xenograft in nude mice and monitoring tumor growth following transfection and treatment.ResultsWe found that survivin was undetectable in normal prostatic tissues but was highly expressed in prostate cancers. Survivin knockdown or selenium treatment inhibited the growth of prostate cancer cells, but the selenium effect was modest. In contrast to what have been observed in other cell lines, selenium treatment had little or no effect on survivin expression in several androgen-independent prostate cancer cell lines. Survivin knockdown sensitized these cells to selenium growth inhibition and apoptosis induction. In nude mice bearing PC-3M xenografts, survivin knockdown synergizes with selenium in inhibiting tumor growth.ConclusionsSelenium could inhibit the growth of hormone-refractory prostate cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo, but the effects were modest. The growth inhibition was not mediated by downregulating survivin expression. Survivin silencing greatly enhanced the growth inhibitory effects of selenium.

Project description:Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is one of the most aggressive cancer types and is well-known for its general low intrinsic radiosensitivity. In order to resolve mechanisms of how PDAC cells carry out radioresistance, a combination of proteomics and phosphoproteomics of two radiosensitive as well as radioresistant murine PDAC cell lines upon exposition to radiation was performed. A high depth of (phospho)proteomic identifications with > 13000 confidently identified phosphorylation sites and > 7800 proteins was achieved. Measuring the response of the phosphoproteome upon radiation revealed >700 phosphorylation sites on >400 proteins which were regulated in all four cell lines independently of the sensitivity status. This analysis validated already known radiomarkers but also uncovered novel members of the radiation-dependent signaling network in PDAC cells that were shown to be exclusively based on protein phosphorylation but not protein expression. Among those radioresponsive phosphoproteins were ten novel ATM substrates, which were validated by in vitro kinase assays. Comparison of radiosensitive and -resistant cells revealed a complex regulation of apoptotic processes, while changes in expression of DNA repair proteins seemed to not play a pivotal role. Especially increased expression of NQO1 was found to be a potential mechanism enabling resistance by clearing harmful reactive oxygen species from the PDAC cells. Further analysis of the radioresistance-associated-phosphoproteome, which was especially enriched in phosphoproteins with cytoskeleton organizational function, uncovered increased Actin dynamics and FAK activity in radioresistant cells. Both likely lead to increased survival, migrational capacity and perturbations in chromatin condensation which could oppose radiation. Based on the displayed adaptions in cellular protein expression and signaling in resistant PDAC cells, pharmacological inhibition of NQO1 and FAK could be suggested to sensitize towards radiation.

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Simultaneous gene silencing of Bcl-2, XIAP and Survivin re-sensitizes pancreatic cancer cells towards apoptosis.

Publications

Simultaneous gene silencing of Bcl-2, XIAP and Survivin re-sensitizes pancreatic cancer cells towards apoptosis.

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