Blocking heat shock protein-90 inhibits the invasive properties and hepatic growth of human colon cancer cells and improves the efficacy of oxaliplatin in p53-deficient colon cancer tumors in vivo.

Abstract

We recently showed that inhibition of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) decreases tumor growth and angiogenesis in gastric cancer through interference with oncogenic signaling pathways. However, controversy still exists about the antimetastatic potential of Hsp90 inhibitors. Moreover, in vitro studies suggested that blocking Hsp90 could overcome p53-mediated resistance of cancer cells to oxaliplatin. We therefore hypothesized that blocking oncogenic signaling with a Hsp90 inhibitor would impair metastatic behavior of colon cancer cells and also improve the efficacy of oxaliplatin in vivo. Human colon cancer cells (HCT116, HT29, and SW620) and the Hsp90 inhibitor 17-(dimethylaminoethylamino)-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-DMAG) were used for experiments. In vitro, 17-DMAG substantially inhibited phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor receptor, c-Met, and focal adhesion kinase, overall resulting in a significant decrease in cancer cell invasiveness. Importantly, 17-DMAG led to an up-regulation of the transcription factor activating transcription factor-3, a tumor suppressor and antimetastatic factor, on mRNA and protein levels. In a cell death ELISA, 17-DMAG markedly induced apoptosis in both p53-wt and p53-deficient cells. In vivo, 17-DMAG significantly reduced tumor growth and vascularization. Furthermore, blocking Hsp90 reduced hepatic tumor burden and metastatic nodules in an experimental model of hepatic colon cancer growth. Importantly, combining oxaliplatin with 17-DMAG in vivo significantly improved growth inhibitory and proapoptotic effects on p53-deficient cells, compared with either substance alone. In conclusion, inhibition of Hsp90 abrogates the invasive properties of colon cancer cells and modulates the expression of the antimetastatic factor activating transcription factor-3. Hence, targeting Hsp90 could prove valuable for treatment of advanced colorectal cancer by effectively inhibiting colon cancer growth and hepatic metastasis and improving the efficacy of oxaliplatin.

• Authors: Christian Moser, Sven A Lang, Silvia Kainz, Andreas Gaumann, Stefan Fichtner-Feigl, Gudrun E Koehl, Hans J Schlitt, Edward K Geissler, Oliver Stoeltzing
• Journal: Molecular cancer therapeutics (Mol Cancer Ther) Vol. 6 Issue 11 Pg. 2868-78 (Nov 2007) ISSN: 1535-7163 [Print] United States
• PMID: 18025273 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins
• Organoplatinum Compounds
• Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
• Oxaliplatin
• ErbB Receptors
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt

Topics

• Animals
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Movement (drug effects)
• Colonic Neoplasms (drug therapy, pathology)
• ErbB Receptors (metabolism)
• HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins (antagonists & inhibitors, metabolism)
• Humans
• Liver Neoplasms (pathology, secondary)
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Nude
• Neoplasm Invasiveness (prevention & control)
• Organoplatinum Compounds (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Oxaliplatin
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt (metabolism)
• Signal Transduction (drug effects)
• Treatment Outcome
• Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 (deficiency)
• Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays