Molecular characterization of cytotoxic and resistance mechanisms induced by NCX 4040, a novel NO-NSAID, in pancreatic cancer cell lines.

Abstract

Although non steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been shown to be effective as chemopreventive agents, important side-effects limit their clinical use. A promising novel class of drugs, nitric oxide-donating NSAIDs (NO-NSAIDs), has been found to be more active than classical NSAIDs. This study explored the effect of the NO-donating aspirin derivative, NCX 4040, on three human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell lines (Capan-2, MIA PaCa-2 and T3M4). NCX 4040 activity was compared with that of NCX 4016 (an NO(2)-positional isomer of NCX 4040), SNAP (a standard NO-releasing molecule), NCX 4042 (denitrated analog of NCX 4040), and aspirin. NCX 4040 showed a striking cytocidal activity in all cell lines, already inducing significant percentages of apoptotic cells at 10 muM in Capan-2 cell lines. This study focused on the biological mechanisms of sensitivity and resistance to NCX 4040, highlighting that the cytotoxic action of this drug may be due to the hyperexpression of Bax, its translocation to the mitochondria, the release of Cytochrome C, and the activation of caspases-9 and -3, overall in a p53-independent manner. Moreover, the use of a specific COX-2 inhibitor (NS 398) in the experimental models showed that COX-2 hyperexpression could partially explain the resistance mechanisms to NCX 4040.

• Authors: Marco Rosetti, Anna Tesei, Paola Ulivi, Francesco Fabbri, Ivan Vannini, Giovanni Brigliadori, Dino Amadori, Manlio Bolla, Wainer Zoli
• Journal: Apoptosis : an international journal on programmed cell death (Apoptosis) Vol. 11 Issue 8 Pg. 1321-30 (Aug 2006) ISSN: 1360-8185 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 16699954 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
• Cytotoxins
• NCX 4040
• NCX 4042
• Nitric Oxide Donors
• Nitro Compounds
• Salicylates
• S-Nitroso-N-Acetylpenicillamine
• Caspase 9
• nitroaspirin
• Aspirin

Topics

• Adenocarcinoma
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal (pharmacology)
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Aspirin (analogs & derivatives, pharmacology)
• Caspase 9 (metabolism)
• Cell Cycle (drug effects)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cytotoxins (pharmacology)
• Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
• Flow Cytometry
• Humans
• Nitric Oxide Donors (pharmacology)
• Nitro Compounds (pharmacology)
• Pancreatic Neoplasms
• S-Nitroso-N-Acetylpenicillamine (pharmacology)
• Salicylates (pharmacology)