Apogossypol derivative BI-97C1 (Sabutoclax) targeting Mcl-1 sensitizes prostate cancer cells to mda-7/IL-24-mediated toxicity

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011 May 24;108(21):8785-90. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1100769108. Epub 2011 May 9.

Abstract

Limited options are available for treating patients with advanced prostate cancer (PC). Melanoma differentiation associated gene-7/interleukin-24 (mda-7/IL-24), an IL-10 family cytokine, exhibits pleiotropic anticancer activities without adversely affecting normal cells. We previously demonstrated that suppression of the prosurvival Bcl-2 family member, myeloid cell leukemia-1 (Mcl-1), is required for mda-7/IL-24-mediated apoptosis of prostate carcinomas. Here we demonstrate that pharmacological inhibition of Mcl-1 expression with the unique Apogossypol derivative BI-97C1, also called Sabutoclax, is sufficient to sensitize prostate tumors to mda-7/IL-24-induced apoptosis, whereas ABT-737, which lacks efficacy in inhibiting Mcl-1, does not sensitize mda-7/IL-24-mediated cytotoxicity. A combination regimen of tropism-modified adenovirus delivered mda-7/IL-24 (Ad.5/3-mda-7) and BI-97C1 enhances cytotoxicity in human PC cells, including those resistant to mda-7/IL-24 or BI-97C1 alone. The combination regimen causes autophagy that facilitates NOXA- and Bim-induced and Bak/Bax-mediated mitochondrial apoptosis. Treatment with Ad.5/3-mda-7 and BI-97C1 significantly inhibits the growth of human PC xenografts in nude mice and spontaneously induced PC in Hi-myc transgenic mice. Tumor growth inhibition correlated with increased TUNEL staining and decreased Ki-67 expression in both PC xenografts and prostates of Hi-myc mice. These findings demonstrate that pharmacological inhibition of Mcl-1 with the Apogossypol derivative, BI-97C1, sensitizes human PCs to mda-7/IL-24-mediated cytotoxicity, thus potentially augmenting the therapeutic benefit of this combinatorial approach toward PC.

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

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Genetic Therapy / methods*
  • Gossypol / analogs & derivatives*
  • Gossypol / pharmacology
  • Gossypol / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Interleukins / administration & dosage
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / therapy
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Transfection
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • 1,1',6,6',7,7'-hexahydroxy-3,3'-dimethyl-N5-(2-phenylpropyl)-N5'-(2-phenylpropyl)-2,2'-binaphthyl-5,5'-dicarboxamide
  • Interleukins
  • Mcl1 protein, mouse
  • Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • apogossypol
  • interleukin-24
  • Gossypol