Rapamycin-enhanced mitomycin C-induced apoptotic death is mediated through the S6K1-Bad-Bak pathway in peritoneal carcinomatosis

Cell Death Dis. 2014 Jun 5;5(6):e1281. doi: 10.1038/cddis.2014.242.

Abstract

Peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) is the most common secondary cancerous disease, and more effective novel regimens are needed. In this study, we identified a novel combination treatment for PC, chemotherapeutic agent mitomycin C in combination with mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) inhibitor rapamycin. We observed that the combination of mitomycin C and rapamycin induced synergistic cytotoxicity and apoptosis, which was mediated through an increase in caspase activation. The combination of mitomycin C and rapamycin inactivated p70 S6 ribosomal kinase (S6K1) and dephosphorylated Bad, leading to dissociation of Bcl-xL from Bak, which resulted in Bak oligomerization, mitochondria dysfunction and cytochrome c release. PF-4708671, a S6K1-specific inhibitor, enhanced the combination treatment-induced apoptosis, whereas S6K1 E389 DeltaCT-HA (S6K1 active form) dramatically decreased the induction of apoptosis. In addition, the combination treatment significantly inhibited LS174T intraperitoneal tumor growth in vivo. This study provides a preclinical rationale for apoptosis induction linked with the mTOR pathway through a combination of chemotherapeutic agents and mTOR inhibitor, and will support this combinatorial strategy to PC patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / drug therapy*
  • Adenocarcinoma / enzymology
  • Adenocarcinoma / genetics
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Animals
  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Mitomycin / agonists
  • Mitomycin / pharmacology*
  • Peritoneal Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Peritoneal Neoplasms / enzymology
  • Peritoneal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Peritoneal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Peritoneal Neoplasms / secondary
  • Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa / genetics
  • Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa / metabolism*
  • Sirolimus / agonists
  • Sirolimus / pharmacology*
  • bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein / genetics
  • bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein / metabolism*
  • bcl-Associated Death Protein / genetics
  • bcl-Associated Death Protein / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
  • BAD protein, human
  • BAK1 protein, human
  • bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein
  • bcl-Associated Death Protein
  • Mitomycin
  • Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa
  • ribosomal protein S6 kinase, 70kD, polypeptide 1
  • Sirolimus