Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0025202 (melanoma)
 69,561 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Resistance of tumors to treatment with cytotoxic drugs, irradiation or immunotherapy may be due to disrupted apoptosis programs. Here, we report in a variety of different tumor cells including Ewing tumor, neuroblastoma, malignant brain tumors and melanoma that caspase-8 expression acts as a key determinant of sensitivity for apoptosis induced by death-inducing ligands or cytotoxic drugs. In tumor cell lines resistant to TRAIL, anti-CD95 or TNFalpha, caspase-8 protein and mRNA expression was decreased or absent without caspase-8 gene loss. Methylation-specific PCR revealed hypermethylation of caspase-8 regulatory sequences in cells with impaired caspase-8 expression. Treatment with the demethylation agent 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-dAzaC) reversed hypermethylation of caspase-8 resulting in restoration of caspase-8 expression and recruitment and activation of caspase-8 at the CD95 DISC upon receptor cross-linking thereby sensitizing for death receptor-, and importantly, also for drug-induced apoptosis. Inhibition of caspase-8 activity also inhibited apoptosis sensitization by 5-dAzaC. Similar to demethylation, introduction of caspase-8 by gene transfer sensitized for apoptosis induction. Hypermethylation of caspase-8 was linked to reduced caspase-8 expression in different tumor cell lines in vitro and, most importantly, also in primary tumor samples. Thus, these findings indicate that re-expression of caspase-8, e.g. by demethylation or caspase-8 gene transfer, might be an effective strategy to restore sensitivity for chemotherapy- or death receptor-induced apoptosis in various tumors in vivo.
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PMID:Sensitization for death receptor- or drug-induced apoptosis by re-expression of caspase-8 through demethylation or gene transfer. 1159 92

In this study, we investigated the molecular pathways targeted by curcumin during apoptosis of human melanoma cell lines. We found that curcumin caused cell death in eight melanoma cell lines, four with wild-type and four with mutant p53. We demonstrate that curcumin-induced apoptosis is both dose- and time-dependent. We found that curcumin did not induce p53, suggesting that curcumin activates other apoptosis pathways. Our data show that curcumin activates caspases-3 and -8 but not caspase-9, supporting the rationale that apoptosis occurs via a membrane-mediated mechanism. Both a caspase-8 and broad-based caspase inhibitor, but not a caspase-9 specific inhibitor, suppressed curcumin-induced cell death. To further support our hypothesis that curcumin induces activation of a death receptor pathway, we show that curcumin induces Fas receptor aggregation in a FasL-independent manner and that low-temperature incubation, previously shown to inhibit receptor aggregation, prevented curcumin-induced cell death. Moreover, we demonstrate that expression of dominant negative FADD significantly inhibited curcumin-induced cell death. In addition, our results indicate that curcumin also blocks the NF-kappaB cell survival pathway and suppresses the apoptotic inhibitor, XIAP. Since melanoma cells with mutant p53 are strongly resistant to conventional chemotherapy, curcumin may overcome the chemoresistance of these cells and provide potential new avenues for treatment.
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PMID:Curcumin induces apoptosis in human melanoma cells through a Fas receptor/caspase-8 pathway independent of p53. 1171 43

Important roles have been suggested for caspase-8, caspase-9 and Apaf-1 in controlling tumor development and their sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents. Methylation and deletion of Apaf-1 and CASP8 results in the loss of their expression in melanoma and neuroblastoma, respectively, while CASP9 localization to 1p36.1 suggests it is a good candidate tumor suppressor. The status of CASP9 and Apaf-1 expression in numerous neuroblastoma cell lines with/without amplified MYCN and chromosome 1p36 loss-of-heterozygosity (LOH) was therefore examined to test the hypothesis that one or both of these genes are tumor suppressors in neuroblastoma. Although CASP9 is included in the region encompassing 1p36 LOH in all neuroblastoma cell lines examined, the remaining CASP9 allele(s) express a functional caspase-9 enzyme. Apaf-1 is also expressed in all neuroblastoma tumor cell lines examined. Thus, the CASP9 or Apaf-1 genes do not appear to function as tumor suppressors in MYCN amplified neuroblastomas. However, approximately 20% of the neuroblastoma cell lines with methylated CASP8 alleles are also highly resistant to staurosporine (STS)- and radiation-induced cell death, presumably because cytochrome c is not released from mitochondria. This suggests that a second, smaller sub-group of MYCN amplified neuroblastoma tumors exists with defect(s) in apoptotic signaling components upstream of caspase-9 and Apaf-1. Since no consistent differences in Bcl-2, Bcl-x(L) or Bax expression were seen in the STS- and radiation-resistant neuroblastomas, it suggests that a unique mitochondrial signaling factor(s) is responsible for the defect in cytochrome c release in this sub-group of tumors.
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PMID:Caspase-9 and Apaf-1 are expressed and functionally active in human neuroblastoma tumor cell lines with 1p36 LOH and amplified MYCN. 1189 17

All human melanoma cell lines (assessed by annexin V and TUNEL assays) were resistant to apoptosis induction by TRAIL/Apo2L protein. TRAIL/Apo2L activated caspase-8 and caspase-3, but subsequent apoptotic events such as poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage and DNA fragmentation were not observed. To probe the molecular mechanisms of cellular resistance to apoptosis, melanoma cell lines were analyzed for expression of apoptosis regulators (apoptotic protease-associated factor-1, FLIP, caspase-8, caspase-9, caspase-3, cellular inhibitor of apoptosis, Bcl-2, or Bax); no correlation was observed. TRAIL/Apo2L was induced in melanoma cell lines by IFN-beta and had been correlated with apoptosis induction. Because IFN-beta induced other gene products that have been associated with apoptosis, it was postulated that one or more IFN-stimulated genes might sensitize cells to TRAIL/Apo2L. Melanoma cell lines were treated with IFN-beta for 16-24 h before treatment with TRAIL/Apo2L. Regardless of their sensitivity to either cytokine alone, >30% of cells underwent apoptosis in response to the combined treatment. Induction of apoptosis by IFN-beta and TRAIL/Apo2L in combination correlated with synergistic activation of caspase-9, a decrease in mitochondrial potential, and cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. Cleavage of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis following IFN-beta and TRAIL/Apo2L treatment was observed in sensitive WM9, A375, or WM3211 cells but not in resistant WM35 or WM164 cells. Thus, in vitro IFN-beta and TRAIL/Apo2L combination treatment had more potent apoptotic and anti-growth effects when compared with either cytokine alone in melanoma cells lines.
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PMID:IFN-beta pretreatment sensitizes human melanoma cells to TRAIL/Apo2 ligand-induced apoptosis. 1209 88

Endothelin-1 (ET-1), a peptide that is secreted by keratinocytes in the skin in response to ultraviolet irradiation, is a ligand for the endothelin-B (ET(B)) receptor. Blockade of this receptor inhibits melanoma cell growth and induces cell death in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, ET(B) is a melanoma progression marker. These findings suggest that the ET-1/ET(B) receptor pathway contributes to melanoma development or progression. Here, we demonstrate that activation of the ET-1/ET(B) pathway downregulates E-cadherin and associated catenin proteins in human melanocytes and melanoma cells. E-cadherin is an established suppressor of melanoma cell invasion in vitro and in vivo. Downregulation of E-cadherin by ET-1/ET(B) involves the downstream activation of caspase-8 but not of distal, executioner caspases, and does not lead to apoptosis. ET-1 also induces a transient association between caspase-8 and E-cadherin:beta-catenin complexes. Hence, activation of the ET-1/ET(B) pathway promotes molecular events known to promote melanoma invasion.
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PMID:UV-induction of keratinocyte endothelin-1 downregulates E-cadherin in melanocytes and melanoma cells. 1218 38

Examination of 38 human melanoma samples by Western blotting analysis with anti-gelsolin antibodies showed that a new 85 kDa truncated gelsolin (GSNp85), co-expressed with wild-type gelsolin, was frequently expressed in vertical growth phase melanomas (Clark level II-IV) and metastatic growth phase melanomas. The GSNp85 truncate was not expressed in radial growth phase melanomas (Clark level I), acquired naevi, other skin cancers or normal skin tissues. Peptide-sequencing analysis revealed that GSNp85 lacks the C-terminal domain of wild-type gelsolin at the region containing the caspase-8 recognition site IETD. Caspase-8 processing was detected in GSNp85-positive but not GSNp85-negative melanomas. These data suggest that GSNp85 is a cleavage product of caspase-8 and may be useful as a new marker for the vertical or metastatic growth phase of malignant melanoma.
Melanoma Res 2002 Dec
PMID:Identification of a novel gelsolin truncate in the vertical and metastatic phase malignant melanomas. 1245 41

Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) are important regulators of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and adamalysin (ADAM) activity. We have previously shown that adenovirally expressed tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-3 (TIMP-3) induces apoptosis in melanoma cells and inhibits growth of human melanoma xenografts. Here, we have studied the role of death receptors in apoptosis of melanoma cells induced by TIMP-3. Our results show, that the exposure of three metastatic melanoma cell lines (A2058, SK-Mel-5, and WM-266-4) to recombinant TIMP-3, N-terminal MMP inhibitory domain of TIMP-3, as well as to adenovirally expressed TIMP-3 results in stabilization of tumor necrosis factor receptor-1 (TNF-RI), FAS, and TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand receptor-1 (TRAIL-RI) on melanoma cell surface and sensitizes these cells to apoptosis induced by TNF-alpha, anti-Fas-antibody and TRAIL. Stabilization of death receptors by TIMP-3 results in activation of caspase-8 and caspase-3, and subsequent apoptosis is blocked by specific caspase-8 inhibitor (Z-IETD-FMK) and by pan-caspase inhibitor (Z-DEVD-FMK). Adenovirus-mediated expression of TIMP-3 in human melanoma xenografts in vivo resulted in increased immunostaining for TNF-RI, FAS, and cleaved caspase-3, and in apoptosis of melanoma cells. Taken together, these results show that TIMP-3 promotes apoptosis in melanoma cells through stabilization of three distinct death receptors and activation of their apoptotic signaling cascade through caspase-8.
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PMID:Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-3 induces apoptosis in melanoma cells by stabilization of death receptors. 1268 14

We have previously shown that Smac/DIABLO release from mitochondria appears to be the principal pathway by which TRAIL induces apoptosis of human melanoma. We report that TRAIL-induced release of Smac/DIABLO appears to be downregulated by concomitant signaling through the MEK Erk1/2 kinase pathway and that this inhibits TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Inhibition of Erk1/2 signaling by either the MEK inhibitor U0126 or a dominant-negative mutant of MKK1 markedly sensitized melanoma cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. The site in the apoptotic pathway acted on by U0126 appeared to be downstream of caspase-8 and Bid but upstream of caspase-3 in that the levels of proteolytic cleavage of caspase-8 and Bid by TRAIL were similar in cells with or without exposure to U0126. Caspase-3 activation and cleavage of its substrates, PARP, ICAD and XIAP, were however increased by cotreatment with U0126. This was associated with a rapid reduction in mitochondrial transmembrane potential (MMP) and increased release of Smac/DIABLO into the cytosol. Exploration of events leading to the changes in MMP revealed an increased translocation of Bax from the cytosol to mitochondria in the presence of U0126. There was also a delayed decrease in the levels of expression of Mcl-1. Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(L). Over expression of Bcl-2 blocked TRAIL-induced apoptosis in the presence of U0126. Cytochrome c appeared not to play a major role in sensitization of melanoma to TRAIL in that caspase-9 activation was not detected in most of the cell lines. These results suggest that Erk1/2 signaling may protect melanoma cells against TRAIL-induced apoptosis by inhibiting the relocation of Bax from the cytosol to mitochondria and that this may reduce TRAIL-mediated release of Smac/DIABLO and induction of apoptosis.
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PMID:Activation of ERK1/2 protects melanoma cells from TRAIL-induced apoptosis by inhibiting Smac/DIABLO release from mitochondria. 1277 38

L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) has been reported to play a role in the treatment and prevention of cancer. However, its specific mechanistic pathways remain obscure. This study was carried out to identify the sodium ascorbate-induced apoptotic pathway in B16F10 murine melanoma cells. Sodium ascorbate was found to induce the apoptosis of B16F10 murine melanoma in a time- and dose-dependent manner, and this was prevented by pretreatment with N-acetyl- L-cysteine (NAC), a well-known antioxidant. In fact, sodium ascorbate-treated B16F10 melanoma cells showed increased intracellular reactive oxygen species generation (ROS) levels. These results indicate that sodium ascorbate induced apoptosis in B16F10 murine melanoma cells by acting as a prooxidant. We examined the involvement of caspase-8 using a specific caspase-8 inhibitor (z-IETD-fmk) on the sodium ascorbate-induced apoptotic pathway. Cell death was found not to be inhibited by z-IETD-fmk treatment, indicating that sodium ascorbate-induced apoptosis is not mediated by caspase-8. In addition, we detected a reduction in the mitochondrial membrane potential during apoptosis and confirmed cytochrome-c release from mitochondria by immunoblotting. Taken together, it appears that the induction of a prooxidant state by sodium ascorbate and a subsequent reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential are involved in the apoptotic pathway of B16F10 murine melanoma cells, and that this occurs in a caspase-8-independent manner.
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PMID:L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) induces the apoptosis of B16 murine melanoma cells via a caspase-8-independent pathway. 1282 7

We have previously demonstrated the anti-tumor activity of nitrosylcobalamin (NO-Cbl), an analog of vitamin B12 that delivers nitric oxide (NO) and increases the expression of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (Apo2L/TRAIL) and its receptors in human tumors. The specific aim of this study was to examine whether NO-Cbl could sensitize drug-resistant melanomas to Apo2L/TRAIL. Antiproliferative effects of NO-Cbl and Apo2L/TRAIL were assessed in malignant melanomas and non-tumorigenic melanocyte and fibroblast cell lines. Athymic nude mice bearing human melanoma A375 xenografts were treated with NO-Cbl and Apo2L/TRAIL. Apoptosis was measured by TUNEL and confirmed by examining levels and activity of key mediators of apoptosis. The activation status of NF-kappa B was established by assaying DNA binding, luciferase reporter activity, the phosphorylation status of I kappa B alpha, and in vitro IKK activity. NO-Cbl sensitized Apo2L/TRAIL-resistant melanoma cell lines to growth inhibition by Apo2L/TRAIL but had minimal effect on normal cell lines. NO-Cbl and Apo2L/TRAIL exerted synergistic anti-tumor activity against A375 xenografts. Treatment with NO-Cbl followed by Apo2L/TRAIL induced apoptosis in Apo2L/TRAIL-resistant tumor cells, characterized by cleavage of caspase-3, caspase-8, and PARP. NO-Cbl inhibited IKK activation, characterized by decreased phosphorylation of I kappa B alpha and inhibition of NF-kappa B DNA binding activity. NO-Cbl suppressed Apo2L/TRAIL- and TNF-alpha-mediated activation of a transfected NF-kappa B-driven luciferase reporter. XIAP, an inhibitor of apoptosis, was inactivated by NO-Cbl. NO-Cbl treatment rendered Apo2L/TRAIL-resistant malignancies sensitive to the anti-tumor effects of Apo2L/TRAIL in vitro and in vivo. The use of NO-Cbl and Apo2L/TRAIL capitalizes on the tumor-specific properties of both agents and represents a promising anti-cancer combination.
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PMID:Suppression of NF-kappa B survival signaling by nitrosylcobalamin sensitizes neoplasms to the anti-tumor effects of Apo2L/TRAIL. 3178 79


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