Comprehensive profiling and targeting of BCL-2 family members in nasopharyngeal carcinoma
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ABSTRACT: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is among a small number of solid tumors that are caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Recently, BH3 mimetics, a novel class of drugs that inhibit pro-survival proteins of the BCL-2 family, have demonstrated clinical anti-cancer efficacy in hematological malignancies and are being investigated for use in solid tumors. There is known dysregulation of pro-survival pathways, particularly, the intrinsic apoptotic pathway during EBV infection of B cells suggesting NPC may be driven by the same pathways, and thus sensitive to BH3 inhibition. Using immunohistochemistry, we examined the expression of BCL-2 family of proteins (BCL2, MCL1 and BCLxL) in 174 NPC from patients treated with curative intent as well as five NPC cell lines. We subsequently evaluated the anti-tumor efficacy of three BH3 mimetics (ABT-199, ABT-737 and S63845) in NPC cells alone or in combination with cisplatin, a commonly used cytotoxic agent in NPC treatment. BCL-2 was highly expressed in NPC tumors and cells. Despite this, BCL2 inhibition, or BH3 monotherapy was not effective. However, marked sensitivity was observed with the combination S63845 (targeting MCL-1) and cisplatin in NPC43, which had high expression of MCL-1. This combination resulted in upregulation of pro-apoptotic tBID suggesting a priming role of cisplatin and apoptotic potentiation through MCL-1 inhibition. Flow cytometry studies and RNA sequencing of NPC43 cells treated with the combination of cisplatin with S63845 and untreated cells showed death by apoptosis and upregulation in stress response and DNA damage pathways. Our study suggests that combining BH3 mimetics with cisplatin could be an effective treatment strategy for NPC and warrants further investigation
ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens
PROVIDER: GSE235574 | GEO | 2024/10/01
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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