Augmentation of the cytotoxic effects of nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates in hypoxia.
ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018;
70:1040-1047. [PMID:
29761837 DOI:
10.1111/jphp.12934]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
Tumour hypoxia is a major obstacle in cancer therapy that leads to poor prognosis. Therefore, the development of cancer treatments that are effective in hypoxia is necessary. Nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates (N-BPs), which are used to treat bone disease, are cytotoxic to several cancer cells in normoxia. Therefore, we investigated the cytotoxicity of N-BPs in cancer cells in hypoxia.
METHODS
We studied the cytotoxicities of N-BPs, statins and anticancer drugs in human cancer cells under hypoxic conditions (1% O2 ). The expression levels of enzymes in the mevalonate pathway in hypoxia were measured by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting.
KEY FINDINGS
In hypoxia, cell growth inhibition by 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin was not changed as compared to that in normoxia; however, cell growth inhibition by N-BPs and via zoledronate-induced apoptosis was higher in hypoxia than that in normoxia. Furthermore, geranylgeraniol completely inhibited the growth inhibitory effects of zoledronate. Additionally, the mRNA and protein levels of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase significantly decreased in hypoxia. Moreover, simvastatin potentiated the growth inhibitory effect of zoledronate.
CONCLUSIONS
The cytotoxicity of N-BPs, but not 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin, is potentiated in hypoxia, through the loss of HMG-CoA reductase function. N-BPs may be effective against cancer in normoxia and hypoxia.
Collapse