Premium
Dasatinib induces autophagic cell death in human ovarian cancer
Author(s) -
Le XiaoFeng,
Mao Weiqun,
Lu Zhen,
Carter Bing Z.,
Bast Robert C.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/cncr.25426
Subject(s) - dasatinib , autophagy , small interfering rna , gene knockdown , cancer research , protein kinase b , pi3k/akt/mtor pathway , gene silencing , chemistry , apoptosis , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , phosphorylation , cell culture , transfection , signal transduction , tyrosine kinase , biochemistry , gene , genetics
Abstract BACKGROUND: Dasatinib, an inhibitor of Src/Abl family kinases, can inhibit tumor growth of several solid tumors. However, the effect and mechanism of action of dasatinib in human ovarian cancer cells remains unknown. METHODS: Dasatinib‐induced autophagy was determined by acridine orange staining, punctate localization of GFP‐LC3, LC3 protein blotting, and electron microscopy. Significance of beclin 1, AKT, and Bcl‐2 in dasatinib‐induced autophagy and growth inhibition was assayed by small interfering RNA (siRNA) silencing and/or overexpression of the gene of interest. RESULTS: Dasatinib inhibited cell growth by inducing little apoptosis, but substantial autophagy in SKOv3 and HEY ovarian cancer cells. In vivo studies showed dasatinib inhibited tumor growth and induced both autophagy and apoptosis in a HEY xenograft model. Knockdown of beclin 1 and Atg12 expression with their respective siRNAs diminished dasatinib‐induced autophagy, whereas knockdown of p27Kip1 with specific siRNAs did not. Small hairpin RNA knockdown of beclin 1 expression reduced dasatinib‐induced autophagy and growth inhibition. Dasatinib reduced the phosphorylation of AKT, mTOR, p70S6K, and S6 kinase expression. Constitutive expression of AKT1 and AKT2 inhibited dasatinib‐induced autophagy in both HEY and SKOv3 cells. Dasatinib also reduced Bcl‐2 expression and activity. Overexpression of Bcl‐2 partially prevented dasatinib‐induced autophagy. CONCLUSIONS: Dasatinib induces autophagic cell death in ovarian cancer that partially depends on beclin 1, AKT, and Bcl‐2. These results may have implications for clinical use of dasatinib. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.