Heat shock protein 90 is a promising target for effective growth inhibition of gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors

Int J Oncol. 2012 May;40(5):1659-67. doi: 10.3892/ijo.2012.1328. Epub 2012 Jan 10.

Abstract

Treatment of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NET) is still unsatisfactory and innovative therapeutic approaches are urgently needed. Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is overexpressed in a wide range of tumor types and is an emerging target for the treatment of cancer. However, the potential activity of Hsp90 inhibitors in GEP-NET has not yet been investigated. We studied the antineoplastic activity of the Hsp90 inhibitor IPI-504 on GEP‑NET cells, and characterized its mechanism of action. In human insulinoma (CM) and pancreatic carcinoid (BON) cells IPI-504 induced a dose-dependent growth inhibition by almost 70%. The antiproliferative effect of IPI-504 correlated with a reduction in protein levels of the IGF-1 receptor. Additionally, several proteins of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, downstream of IGF-1 receptor activation in GEP-NETs, were downregulated as a consequence of Hsp90 inhibition. Combination treatment of IPI-504 with mTOR- or AKT-inhibitors led to additive antiproliferative effects. In addition, effects of IGF-1 receptor tyrosine kinase inhibition were strongly enhanced by IPI-504. Cancer gene expression profiling and FACS analysis revealed that IPI-504 antiproliferative effects were due to both induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. A modified chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay confirmed the antineoplastic activity of IPI-504 in GEP-NETs in vivo. In conclusion, this study showed that Hsp90 inhibition may be an attractive target for innovative GEP-NET treatment alone or in combination with either IGF-1R or mTOR inhibitors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Benzoquinones / pharmacology*
  • Cell Cycle Checkpoints / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects*
  • Chick Embryo
  • Chorioallantoic Membrane / blood supply
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Lactams, Macrocyclic / pharmacology*
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / genetics
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / metabolism*
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / pathology
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase / metabolism
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1 / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Benzoquinones
  • HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins
  • Lactams, Macrocyclic
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • tanespimycin
  • MTOR protein, human
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases