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Modulation of glutathione promotes apoptosis in triple‐negative breast cancer cells
Author(s) -
Vogg Andreas T. J.,
Drude Natascha,
Mottaghy Felix M.,
Morgenroth Agnieszka,
Miran Tara
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fj.201701157r
Subject(s) - glutathione , buthionine sulfoximine , cancer research , propidium iodide , cancer stem cell , chemistry , apoptosis , breast cancer , cancer cell , cd44 , triple negative breast cancer , cancer , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , programmed cell death , biology , cell , biochemistry , enzyme
Triple‐negative breast cancer has an extremely high rate of relapse. This is particularly due to the existence and survival of cancer stem cells (CSCs) characterized by increased amounts of glutathione (GSH). In this study, we evaluated the potential of pharmacological GSH depletion to sensitize CSCs to ionizing radiotherapy with an I‐125‐labeled nucleoside analog, 5‐iodo‐4'‐thio‐2'‐deoxyuridine (ITdU). CSCs were isolated using CD24 ‐ ‐ and CD44 + ‐specific microbeads. GSH and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were evaluated by fluorescence‐activated cell sorting. GSH synthesis was inhibited with buthionine sulfoximine (BSO). Apoptotic cells were identified with propidium iodide and double‐strand DNA breaks were detected by g‐H2AX staining. For therapy study, BSO treated and untreated mice xenografted with breast CSCs received weekly I‐125‐ITdU. Therapy efficiency was monitored by fluorodeoxyglucose‐18^‐positron emission tomography. We showed that GSH modulation sensitizes CD24 ‐ and CD44 + breast cancer cells to endogenous nanoradiotherapy. BSO synergistically affects ROS generation induced by I‐125‐ITdU. In an in vivo study, we demonstrated a complete tumor regression as a consequence of preconditioning with a GSH‐synthesis inhibitor prior to treatment with I‐125‐ITdU. GSH modulation in combination with an oxidative stress‐generating treatment such as endogenous radiotherapy using an Auger emitter offers an extraordinary opportunity for selective and efficient eradication of drug‐resistant CSCs.—Miran, T., Vogg, A. T. J., Drude, N., Mottaghy, F. M., Morgenroth, A. Modulation of glutathione promotes apoptosis in triple‐negative breast cancer cells. FASEB J. 32,2803–2813 (2018). www.fasebj.org