Novel survivin inhibitor for suppressing pancreatic cancer cells growth via downregulating Sp1 and Sp3 transcription factors

Myrna Hurtado, Umesh T. Sankpal, Aboubacar Kaba, Shahela Mahammad, Jaya Chhabra, Deondra T. Brown, Raj K. Gurung, Alvin A. Holder, Jamboor K. Vishwanatha, Riyaz Basha

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background/Aims: Targeting survivin, an anti-apoptotic protein and mitotic regulator, is considered as an effective therapeutic option for pancreatic cancer (PaCa). Tolfenamic acid (TA) showed anti-cancer activity in pre-clinical studies. A recent discovery demonstrated a copper(II) complex of TA (Cu-TA) can result in higher activity. In this study, the ability of Cu-TA to inhibit survivin and its transcription factors, Specificity protein (Sp) 1 and 3 in PaCa cell lines and tumor growth in mouse xenograft model were evaluated. Methods: Cell growth inhibition was measured in MIA PaCa-2 and Panc1 cells for 2 days using CellTiter-Glo kit. Sp1, Sp3 and survivin expression (by Western blot and qPCR), apoptotic cells and cell cycle phase distribution (by flow cytometry) were evaluated. A pilot study was performed using athymic nude mice [treated with vehicle/Cu-TA (25 or 50 mg/kg) 3 times/week for 4 weeks. Results: The IC 50 value for Cu-TA was about half than TA.Both agents repressed the protein expression of Sp1/Sp3/survivin, Cu-TA was more effective than TA. Especially effect on survivin inhibition was 5.2 (MIA PaCa-2) or 6.4 (Panc1) fold higher and mRNA expression of only survivin was decreased. Apoptotic cells increased with Cu-TA treatment in both cell lines, while Panc1 showed both effect on apoptosis and cell cycle (G 2 /M) arrest. Cu-TA decreased the tumor growth in mouse xenografts (25 mg/kg: 48%; 50 mg/kg: 68%). Additionally, there was no change observed in mice body weights, indicating no overt toxicity was occurring. Conclusion: These results show that Cu-TA can serve as an effective survivin inhibitor for inhibiting PaCa cell growth.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1894-1907
Number of pages14
JournalCellular Physiology and Biochemistry
Volume51
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Dec 2018

Keywords

  • Copper-tolfenamic acid
  • Pancreatic cancer
  • Sp1
  • Sp3
  • Survivin

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