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Imatinib mesylate induces apoptosis in human cholangiocarcinoma cells
Author(s) -
Chiorean Mihnea V.,
Guicciardi Maria Eugenia,
Yoon JungHwan,
Bronk Steven F.,
Kaufmanns Scott H.,
Gores Gregory J.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
liver international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.873
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1478-3231
pISSN - 1478-3223
DOI - 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2004.0984.x
Subject(s) - imatinib mesylate , apoptosis , cancer research , tyrosine kinase , protein kinase b , tyrosine kinase inhibitor , kinase , receptor tyrosine kinase , biology , signal transduction , imatinib , microbiology and biotechnology , cancer , medicine , biochemistry , myeloid leukemia
Background: Cholangiocarcinoma is a highly malignant, usually fatal cancer with limited therapeutic options. Receptor tyrosine kinases contribute to the development and progression of this cancer. The relatively selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib mesylate (STI‐571 or Gleevec®) has recently been licensed. However, the ability of this drug to inhibit signal transduction and induce apoptosis in human cholangiocarcinoma cells is incompletely studied. Thus, our goal was to examine the ability of STI‐571 to induce apoptosis in KMCH‐1 cells, a human cholangiocarcinoma cell line. Methods: Apoptosis was assessed morphologically and also biochemically by measuring caspase activity and the mitochondrial membrane potential. STI‐571 induced apoptosis and inhibited growth of KMCH‐1 cells in a time‐ and concentration‐dependent manner. The induction of apoptosis was accompanied by mitochondrial depolarization followed by a 4.5‐fold increase in caspase activation and was abrogated by the pancaspase inhibitor z‐VAD(OMe)‐fmk. Interestingly, cholangiocarcinoma cells do not express detectable PDGFR, c‐Abl or c‐Kit, which are protein kinases known to be directly inhibited by STI‐571. However, a significant decrease in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) phosphorylation was observed following treatment with STI‐571. This decrease in EGFR and FAK phosphorylation was associated with a reduction in Akt activity resulting in loss of Mcl‐1, a potent anti‐apoptotic Bcl‐2 family protein. Conclusions: these results indicate that STI‐571 induces caspase‐dependent apoptosis in a human cholangiocarcinoma cell line and suggest that STI‐571 might warrant further investigation as a possible agent for treatment of human cholangiocarcinoma.