Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P42574 (caspase-3)
 45,978 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Twenty trihaloacetylazulene derivatives with one atom of fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine was investigated for their tumor-specific cytotoxicity and apoptosis-inducing activity against three human normal cells (gingival fibroblast, HGF; pulp cell, HPC; periodontal ligament fibroblast, HPLF) and four human tumor cell lines (squamous cell carcinoma, HSC-2, HSC-3, HSC-4; promyelocytic leukemia, HL-60). There was no apparent difference in the cytotoxic activity between 2-methoxyazulenes [1a-1e, 2a-2e] and 2-ethoxyazulenes [3a-3e, 4a-4e]. Trichloroacetylazulenes [2a-2e, 4a-4e] generally showed higher cytotoxicity and tumor-specificity (expressed as a TS value) as compared with the corresponding trifluoroacetylazulenes [1a-1e, 3a-3e]. Substitution of chloride [1c, 2c, 3c. 4c], bromide [1d, 2d, 3d, 4d] or iodine [1e, 2e, 3e, 4e] at the C-3 position further enhanced cytotoxic activity against four tumor cell lines, especially HL-60 cells. Among twenty trihaloacetylazulene derivatives, two compounds [2d] and [4c] showed the highest tumor specificity (TS = > 3.5 and > 2.5, respectively). Compounds [2d] and [4c] induced apoptotic cell death characterized by caspase-3, -8 and -9 activation and internucleosomal DNA fragmentation in HL-60 cells. On the other hand, compounds [2d] and [4c] induced autophagic cell death characterized by lower activation of caspases, lack of DNA fragmentation, vacuolization and autophagosome formation detected by acridine orange and LC3-GFP fluorescence, without the decline of the intracellular concentration of three major polyamines in HSC-4 cells. The cytotoxic activity of [4c], but not [2d], was slightly reduced by 3-methyladenine, an inhibitor of autophagy. These results suggest the diversity of cell death type induced in human tumor cell lines by trihaloacetylazulene derivatives.
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PMID:Tumor-specificity and type of cell death induced by trihaloacetylazulenes in human tumor cell lines. 1735 25

In general, oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells are relatively resistant to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-mediated apoptosis during culture in vitro. Here, we studied the role of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-K)/Akt in survival and apoptosis of these cells. The PI 3-K inhibitors wortmannin and LY294002 markedly suppressed phosphorylation of Akt and accelerated TRAIL-mediated apoptosis in OSCC cells. Addition of TRAIL to PI 3-K inhibitor-treated cells resulted in caspase-8 activation and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Furthermore, inhibitors of caspase-3, -8 and -9 reduced the accelerative effect of PI 3-K inhibitors on TRAIL-mediated apoptosis. These results suggest that the pro-apoptotic effect of PI 3-K inhibitors on TRAIL-mediated apoptosis may contribute to both the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways. Although PI 3-K inhibitors did not affect expression of the TRAIL receptors DR4 and DR5, we observed a marked reduction in expression of cellular FLICE-inhibitory protein (c-FLIP), Bcl-2, cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein-1 (cIAP-1) and X-linked IAP (XIAP), whereas Bax was up-regulated and no significant difference was observed in expression of Bcl-xL, Bak or cIAP-2. Therefore, the PI 3-K/Akt signaling pathway provides partial regulation of TRAIL-mediated apoptosis in OSCC cells via modulation of c-FLIP, Bcl-2, Bax, cIAP-1 and XIAP expression. These results suggest that PI 3-K inhibitors may represent a novel strategy for overcoming resistance to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis in OSCC cells.
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PMID:Enhanced susceptibility to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand-mediated apoptosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells treated with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors. 1739 18

In the present study, the precise mechanism of the enhancing action of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors on cisplatin (CDDP)-induced apoptosis was investigated using suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) in human oral squamous cell carcinoma cells (HSC-3). HDAC inhibitors are promising novel compounds for the treatment of cancer, which cooperate with chemotherapeutic agents to induce apoptosis. Apoptosis enhancement of HSC-3 cells by SAHA was accompanied by the activation of caspase-3, -8 and -9, suggesting a mitochondrial-dependent amplification loop. Concomitant treatment (CDDP/SAHA) of cells resulted in the most effective enhancement of apoptosis compared to other timing combinations. By means of cell-cycle synchronization, G0/G1-phase cells proved to be a more sensitive fraction to SAHA action than their synchronized counterparts in other phases. Furthermore, cells treated with SAHA revealed a decrease in intracellular reduced glutathione (GSH) contents. Of importance, the GSH synthesis inhibitor, diethyl maleate, decreased intracellular GSH and enhanced CDDP-induced apoptosis in a similar pattern of timing to SAHA. Thus, SAHA appears to disrupt the intracellular redox balance, which causes maximal apoptosis at the G0/G1 phase arrested by CDDP in HSC-3 cells. These results demonstrate that HDAC inhibitors not only cause a change in the histone acetylation status, but are also able to influence the apoptotic process at several levels, and GSH plays a key role in governing SAHA-dependent enhancement of CDDP-induced apoptosis.
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PMID:Chemosensitization of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells to cisplatin by histone deacetylase inhibitor, suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid. 1739 20

This study was performed to compare the relative antineoplastic activity of 10 different non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in clinical use, and to investigate the underlying mechanisms of this activity in a squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck model (SCCHN). A standard 5-day MTT assay was used to calculate IC(50) values in UM-SCC-1 cells for 10 NSAIDs, including celecoxib, rofecoxib, sulindac sulfide, sulindac sulfone, indomethacin, ketoprofen, flurbiprofen, naproxen, piroxicam, and aspirin. Celecoxib, a COX-2 specific inhibitor, was by far the most potent NSAID, with an IC(50) of 39.9 +/- 1.1 microM, followed by sulindac sulfide (116.5 +/- 2.34 microM). Celecoxib and sulindac sulfide also induced more activation of caspase-3 than any other NSAID. Cell cycle analysis showed that celecoxib and sulindac sulfide both induced a 3-fold increase in G(1) phase distribution, and this correlated with strong induction of p21(waf1/cip1), inhibition of cyclin D1, and hypophosphorylation of Rb. Celecoxib and sulindac sulfide treatment induced strong downstream inhibition of E2F transactivating activity as determined by a luciferase reporter assay. These data demonstrate the wide range of activity of various NSAID agents, and reveal a mechanism of action through cell cycle inhibition and induction of apoptosis.
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PMID:Relative non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) antiproliferative activity is mediated through p21-induced G1 arrest and E2F inhibition. 1741 79

The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl (HMG)-CoA reductase inhibitors, also called statins, are commonly used as lipid-lowering drugs that inhibit cholesterol biosynthesis. An anticancer effect, as a pleiotropic function of certain statins, has been hypothesized. In the present study, we investigated the effect of simvastatin, one of the natural statins, on cell proliferation, cell cycle, invasive activity, and molecular expressions associated with cell-extracellular matrix adhesion, signal transduction, and DNA synthesis in Tu167 and JMAR cells from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. The addition of simvastatin resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of cell growth and migration into the extracellular matrix. Considerable morphological changes occurred after treatment with simvastatin, demonstrating loss of cell adhesion and disruption of actin filaments in cytoplasm. The inhibitory effect of simvastatin on cell proliferation seemed to be associated with cell cycle arrest and increased expression of p21, p27, and activated caspase-3. The expression of beta1-integrin, a counter adhesion for the extracellular matrix, phosphorylated FAK, and phosphorylated ERK was decreased by treatment with simvastatin. The proapoptotic effect of simvastatin was inhibited by treatment with mevalonate. cDNA microarray assay demonstrated that molecular changes resulting from treatment with simvastatin included the up-regulation of cell cycle regulators and apoptosis-inducing factors and the down-regulation of integrin-associated molecules and cell proliferation markers. Of down-regulated genes induced by simvastatin treatment, a significant depletion of thymidylate synthase was confirmed using western blot analysis. These results imply that simvastatin has the potential to be effective for the prevention of the growth and metastasis of cancer cells.
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PMID:Simvastatin inactivates beta1-integrin and extracellular signal-related kinase signaling and inhibits cell proliferation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells. 1742 61

Dietary grape seed proanthocyanidins (GSPs) prevent photocarcinogenesis in mice. Here, we report that in vitro treatment of human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells with GSPs inhibited cellular proliferation (13-89%) and induced cell death (1-48%) in a dose (5-100 mug/ml)- and time (24, 48 and 72 h)-dependent manner. GSP-induced inhibition of cell proliferation was associated with an increase in G1-phase arrest at 24 h, which was mediated through the inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdk) Cdk2, Cdk4, Cdk6 and cyclins D1, D2 and E and simultaneous increase in protein expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (Cdki), Cip1/p21 and Kip1/p27, and enhanced binding of Cdki-Cdk. The treatment of A431 cells with GSPs (20-80 mug/ml) resulted in a dose-dependent increase in apoptotic cell death (26-58%), which was associated with an increased protein expression of proapoptotic Bax, decreased expression of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, and cleavage of caspase-9, caspase-3 and PARP. Pretreatment with the pan-caspase inhibitor (z-VAD-fmk) blocked the GSP-induced apoptosis in A431 cells suggesting that GSP-induced apoptosis is associated primarily with the caspase-3-dependent pathway. Together, our study suggests that GSPs possess chemotherapeutic potential against human epidermoid carcinoma cells in vitro, further in vivo mechanistic studies are required to verify the chemotherapeutic effect of GSPs in skin cancers.
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PMID:Grape seed proanthocyanidins promote apoptosis in human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells through alterations in Cdki-Cdk-cyclin cascade, and caspase-3 activation via loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. 1743 83

Both the resistance of tumor cells to cisplatin and dose-related toxicity remain two of the most important problems in the chemotherapy of clinical oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Researchers have been seeking a combinative treatment regimen to improve the effect of chemotherapy. As potent new anti-cancer drugs, histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACI(S)) have been reported to be associated with chromatin modification and display synergistic activities with some traditional chemotherapeutic agents. In this study, we evaluated the potential combinative effect of low dose cisplatin and suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA, one of the most potent HDACI(S)) in OSCC cell lines. Cell viability and apoptotic assay were examined. Compared with either cisplatin (4 microg/ml) or SAHA (2 microM) treated alone, co-administration of both drugs synergistically induces cytotoxicity and apoptosis in both Tca8113 and KB cell lines. Furthermore, diverse apoptosis-associated proteins, including p53, BID, cytochrome C and caspase-3 were involved in the induction of apoptosis. Our results suggest that concurrent treatment with SAHA enhances tumor cell sensitivity to subtoxic doses of cisplatin. This may be regarded as a novel strategy for treatment of OSCC.
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PMID:Enhancement of cisplatin induced apoptosis by suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid in human oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines. 1744 79

Molecular inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling is a promising cancer treatment strategy. We examined whether inhibition of EGFR signaling would affect the susceptibility of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells to Fas-mediated apoptosis. Treatment of OSCC cells with an anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody, C225, and an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, AG1478, which target the extracellular and intracellular domains of the receptor, respectively, inhibited phosphorylation of EGFR and its downstream effector molecule Akt and amplified the induction of Fas-mediated apoptosis. In OSCC cells treated with EGFR inhibitors, Fas-mediated apoptosis was accompanied by caspase-8 activation but not Bid cleavage. Caspase-3 and -8 inhibitors reduced the effect of EGFR inhibitors on Fas-mediated apoptosis in OSCC cells, but a caspase-9 inhibitor did not. These results indicate that the pro-apoptotic activity of EGFR inhibitors in OSCC cells depends on the extrinsic pathway of the caspase cascade. Although EGFR inhibitors did not affect the expression of Fas, the Fas-associated death domain protein, or procaspase-8 in OSCC cells, the inhibition downregulated cellular FLICE-inhibitory protein (c-FLIP). Moreover, knockdown of c-FLIP in HSC-2 cells with a small interfering RNA strongly enhanced Fas-mediated apoptosis. These results suggest that the EGFR signaling pathway may, in part, regulate Fas-mediated apoptosis in OSCC cells through c-FLIP expression.
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PMID:Epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors enhance susceptibility to Fas-mediated apoptosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells. 1768 85

Fibronectin regulates many cellular processes, including migration, proliferation, differentiation, and survival. Previously, we showed that squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cell aggregates escape suspension-induced, p53-mediated anoikis by engaging in fibronectin-mediated survival signals through focal adhesion kinase (FAK). Here we report that an altered matrix, consisting of a mutated, nonfunctional high-affinity heparin-binding domain and the V region of fibronectin (V+H-), induced anoikis in human SCC cells; this response was blocked by inhibitors of caspase-8 and caspase-3. Anoikis was mediated by downregulation of integrin alpha v in a panel of SCC cells and was shown to be proteasome-dependent. Overexpression of integrin alpha v or FAK inhibited the increase in caspase-3 activation and apoptosis, whereas suppression of alpha v or FAK triggered a further significant increase in apoptosis, indicating that the apoptosis was mediated by suppression of integrin alpha v levels and dephosphorylation of FAK. Treatment with V+H- decreased the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1 and 2, and direct activation of ERK by constitutively active MEK1, an ERK kinase, increased ERK1 and ERK2 phosphorylation and inhibited the increase in apoptosis induced by V+H-. ERK acted downstream from alpha v and FAK signals, since alpha v and FAK overexpression inhibited both the decrease in ERK phosphorylation and the increase in anoikis triggered by V+H-. These findings provide evidence that mutations in the high-affinity heparin-binding domain in association with the V region of fibronectin, or altered fibronectin matrices, induce anoikis in human SCC cells by modulating integrin alpha v-mediated phosphorylation of FAK and ERK.
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PMID:An altered fibronectin matrix induces anoikis of human squamous cell carcinoma cells by suppressing integrin alpha v levels and phosphorylation of FAK and ERK. 1787 63

The purpose of this study was to determine whether phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-K) inhibitors could modulate the apoptotic activity of the anticancer drugs cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil or docetaxel in an oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell line, HSC-2. In preliminary experiments, cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil and docetaxel inhibited the proliferation of OSCC cells in a dose-dependent manner. We found that two PI 3-K inhibitors, wortmannin and LY294002, markedly suppressed the phosphorylation of Akt in OSCC cells. Treatment of OSCC cells with PI 3-K inhibitors significantly enhanced cisplatin-, 5-fluorouracil- or docetaxel-induced apoptosis. Caspase-3 and -9 inhibitors, but not a caspase-8 inhibitor, reduced anticancer drug-mediated apoptosis in PI 3-K inhibitor-treated OSCC cells, suggesting that the apoptotic pathway induced by the combination of anticancer drug therapy and PI 3-K inhibition may be functionally related to the intrinsic apoptotic pathway in OSCC cells. Expression of Bcl-2, cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein-1 (cIAP-1), and X-linked IAP was down-regulated, and expression of Bax was up-regulated by PI 3-K inhibitors, while that of Bcl-xL, Bak and cIAP-2 was not attenuated. We also found that Bad phosphorylation was down-regulated by PI 3-K inhibitors. These results suggested that inhibition of PI 3-K enhances the susceptibility of OSCC cells to anticancer drug-mediated apoptosis through regulation of expression and post-translational modification of both pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins. These findings could potentially lead to new strategies for improving the efficacy of anticancer drugs in OSCC cells.
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PMID:Enhanced susceptibility to apoptosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells subjected to combined treatment with anticancer drugs and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors. 1791 41


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