Nutlin-3 acts as a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor to sensitize esophageal cancer to chemoradiation

Wei Lun Chang, Chih Hsiung Hsieh, I. Ying Kuo, Chien Hsun Lin, Yu Lin Huang, Yi Ching Wang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is highly resistant to chemoradiation therapy. We aimed to examine whether Nutlin-3, a molecule that suppresses murine double min 2 (MDM2)-mediated p53 and Retinoblastoma (RB) protein degradation leading to downregulation of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), can be a novel therapeutic agent for ESCC. We used wild-type and chemoradiation-resistant ESCC cell lines in this study. The expression of DNMTs, p53 and RB, and methylation level of tumor suppressor genes (TSG) were analyzed upon Nutlin-3 treatment. The antitumor efficacy of Nutlin-3 was investigated in ESCC cell lines and xenograft tumor model. TSG protein expression was checked in the excised tumor tissue. Nutlin-3 induced upregulation of p53 and RB and downregulation of DNMTs proteins in the chemoradiation-resistant and aggressive ESCC cells. The methylation level of TSGs was decreased by Nutlin-3. Nutlin-3 inhibits clonogenic growth of ESCC cells and exerts a synergistic cytotoxic-effect when combined with chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin. Moreover, xenograft tumor growth in SCID mice was suppressed by Nutlin-3. The protein expression level of DNMTs was downregulated, and that of TSGs was upregulated by Nutlin-3 treatment in the excised tumor tissue. In conclusion, Nutlin-3 is a potential therapeutic agent that can potentiate the treatment efficacy of chemoradiation-resistant ESCC.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)277-287
Number of pages11
JournalMolecular Carcinogenesis
Volume62
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023 Feb

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Research

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