Sorafenib/regorafenib and lapatinib interact to kill CNS tumor cells

J Cell Physiol. 2015 Jan;230(1):131-9. doi: 10.1002/jcp.24689.

Abstract

The present studies were to determine whether the multi-kinase inhibitor sorafenib or its derivative regorafenib interacted with the ERBB1/ERBB2 inhibitor lapatinib to kill CNS tumor cells. In multiple CNS tumor cell types sorafenib and lapatinib interacted in a greater than additive fashion to cause tumor cell death. Tumor cells lacking PTEN, and anoikis or lapatinib resistant cells were as sensitive to the drug combination as cells expressing PTEN or parental cells, respectively. Similar data were obtained using regorafenib. Treatment of brain cancer cells with [sorafenib + lapatinib] enhanced radiation toxicity. The drug combination increased the numbers of LC3-GFP vesicles; this correlated with a reduction in endogenous LC3II, and p62 and LAMP2 degradation. Knock down of Beclin1 or ATG5 significantly suppressed drug combination lethality. Expression of c-FLIP-s, BCL-XL, or dominant negative caspase 9 reduced drug combination toxicity; knock down of FADD or CD95 was protective. Expression of both activated AKT and activated MEK1 or activated mTOR was required to strongly suppress drug combination lethality. As both lapatinib and sorafenib are FDA approved agents, our data argue for further determination as to whether lapatinib and sorafenib is a useful glioblastoma therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Anoikis / drug effects
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / genetics
  • Autophagy-Related Protein 5
  • Beclin-1
  • Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Brain Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein / biosynthesis
  • Caspase 9 / biosynthesis
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Drug Synergism
  • ErbB Receptors / antagonists & inhibitors
  • ErbB Receptors / genetics
  • Fas-Associated Death Domain Protein / genetics
  • Glioblastoma / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Lapatinib
  • Lysosomal-Associated Membrane Protein 2 / metabolism
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 1 / biosynthesis
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / genetics
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / metabolism
  • Niacinamide / analogs & derivatives*
  • Niacinamide / pharmacology
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase / genetics
  • Phenylurea Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / biosynthesis
  • Pyridines / pharmacology*
  • Quinazolines / pharmacology*
  • Sorafenib
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / biosynthesis
  • Unfolded Protein Response / drug effects
  • bcl-X Protein / biosynthesis
  • bcl-X Protein / metabolism
  • fas Receptor / genetics

Substances

  • ATG5 protein, human
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Autophagy-Related Protein 5
  • BCL2L1 protein, human
  • BECN1 protein, human
  • Beclin-1
  • CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein
  • CFLAR protein, human
  • FADD protein, human
  • FAS protein, human
  • Fas-Associated Death Domain Protein
  • LAMP2 protein, human
  • Lysosomal-Associated Membrane Protein 2
  • MAP1LC3A protein, human
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • Phenylurea Compounds
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pyridines
  • Quinazolines
  • bcl-X Protein
  • fas Receptor
  • Lapatinib
  • regorafenib
  • Niacinamide
  • Sorafenib
  • MTOR protein, human
  • EGFR protein, human
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 1
  • MAP2K1 protein, human
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase
  • PTEN protein, human
  • Caspase 9