RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Apoptotic Events in a Human Ovarian Cancer Cell Line Exposed to Anthracyclines
JF Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
JO J Pharmacol Exp Ther
FD American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
SP 276
OP 283
VO 296
IS 2
A1 Daniela Bellarosa
A1 Alessandra Ciucci
A1 Angela Bullo
A1 Federica Nardelli
A1 Stefano Manzini
A1 Carlo Alberto Maggi
A1 Cristina Goso
YR 2001
UL http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/296/2/276.abstract
AB Cytotoxic drugs commonly used in cancer therapy promote tumor cell death by inducing apoptosis, but the cell death pathway(s) is likely dependent on the mechanism of drug action. In the present study, we investigated the mechanisms of cell death induced by doxorubicin (DXR) and the novel disaccharide anthracycline MEN 10755, in a human ovarian cancer cell line (A2780). Exposure to either anthracycline induced the up-regulation of several genes known to promote cell cycle arrest and DNA repair (WAF1/p21, GADD45) or apoptosis (bax, Fas). Although the expression of Fas was increased, an antagonistic anti-Fas antibody ZB4 did not inhibit anthracycline-induced apoptosis, suggesting that the stimulation of the Fas receptor did not play a critical role in the induction of apoptosis in this cell line. We also observed that neither MEN 10755 nor DXR were able to induce apoptosis in A2780 cells deprived of the nucleus but retaining an intact mitochondrial function (cytoplasts) and that apoptosis induced by either anthracycline was inhibited by cycloheximide, indicating that it is an active process requiring new protein synthesis. Both the caspases inhibitors, ZVAD-fmk and DEVD-cho, inhibited at similar extent apoptosis induced by either DXR or MEN 10755, suggesting an involvement of caspase-3 in this response. We conclude that, in a tumor cell line of epithelial origin, the apoptosis following exposure to anthracyclines is an active process requiring protein synthesis and drug interaction with nuclear structures. The pathway was Fas-independent but likely involved bax and caspase-3 as effectors of the cascade culminating in apoptosis.