Disparate impact of butyroyloxymethyl diethylphosphate (AN-7), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, and doxorubicin in mice bearing a mammary tumor

PLoS One. 2012;7(2):e31393. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0031393. Epub 2012 Feb 23.

Abstract

The histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACI) butyroyloxymethyl diethylphosphate (AN-7) synergizes the cytotoxic effect of doxorubicin (Dox) and anti-HER2 on mammary carcinoma cells while protecting normal cells against their insults. This study investigated the concomitant changes occurring in heart tissue and tumors of mice bearing a subcutaneous 4T1 mammary tumor following treatment with AN-7, Dox, or their combination. Dox or AN-7 alone led to inhibition of both tumor growth and lung metastases, whereas their combination significantly increased their anticancer efficacy and attenuated Dox- toxicity. Molecular analysis revealed that treatment with Dox, AN-7, and to a greater degree, AN-7 together with Dox increased tumor levels of γH2AX, the marker for DNA double-strand breaks and decreased the expression of Rad51, a protein needed for DNA repair. These events culminated in increased apoptosis, manifested by the appearance of cytochrome-c in the cytosol. In the myocardium, Dox-induced cardiomyopathy was associated with an increase in γH2AX expression and a reduction in Rad51 and MRE11 expression and increased apoptosis. The addition of AN-7 to the Dox treatment protected the heart from Dox insults as was manifested by a decrease in γH2AX levels, an increase in Rad51 and MRE11 expression, and a diminution of cytochrome-c release. Tumor fibrosis was high in untreated mice but diminished in Dox- and AN-7-treated mice and was almost abrogated in AN-7+Dox-treated mice. By contrast, in the myocardium, Dox alone induced a dramatic increase in fibrosis, and AN7+Dox attenuated it. The high expression levels of c-Kit, Ki-67, c-Myc, lo-FGF, and VEGF in 4T1 tumors were significantly reduced by Dox or AN-7 and further attenuated by AN-7+Dox. In the myocardium, Dox suppressed these markers, whereas AN-7+Dox restored their expression. In conclusion, the combination of AN-7 and Dox results in two beneficial effects, improved anticancer efficacy and cardioprotection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Butyrates / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded
  • Doxorubicin / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Genetic Markers / genetics
  • Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / drug therapy
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Models, Genetic
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Organophosphorus Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Reactive Oxygen Species

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Butyrates
  • Genetic Markers
  • Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors
  • Histones
  • Organophosphorus Compounds
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • diethoxyphosphoryloxymethyl butanoate
  • gamma-H2AX protein, mouse
  • Doxorubicin