Currently, the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway represents a key target for new cancer drug development. Advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC) has a poor prognosis because of the lack of efficacious treatment options. Although DNA repair pathway alterations have been reported in many patients with BTC, little is known regarding the effects of DDR-targeted agents against BTC.
Materials and Methods
In this study, nine BTC cell lines were exposed to the WEE1 inhibitor (AZD1775). In vitro, MTT assay, colony-forming assay, cell cycle analysis, phospho-histone H3 staining assay, Transwell migration assay, and western blot were performed. Then, to enhance the antitumor effect of AZD1775, the combination treatment of WEE1 inhibitor and ataxia telangiectasia mutated and Rad3 related (ATR) inhibitor (AZD6738) was conducted using MTT assay and comet assay. Finally, HuCCT-1 and SNU2670 xenograft models were established to confirm the anti-tumor effect of AZD1775 alone. Furthermore, the combination treatment was also evaluated in SNU2670 xenograft models.
Results
AZD1775 blocked the phosphorylation of CDC2 and CDC25C in all cell lines, but significantly increased apoptosis and S phase arrest in sensitive cells. However, increased p-ATR and phosphorylated ataxia telangiectasia mutated levels were observed in less sensitive cells.
In addition, in vitro and in vivo data illustrated that AZD1775 combined with AZD6738 exerted more potent anti-tumor effects than either drug alone. Although WEE1 inhibition has promising anti-tumor effects in some BTC cells, the addition of ATR inhibitors could enhance its efficacy.
Conclusion
Taken together, this study supports further clinical development of DDR-targeted strategies as monotherapy or combination regimens for BTC.
Hyung Seok Park, Jai Min Ryu, Ji Soo Park, Seock-Ah Im, So-Youn Jung, Eun-Kyu Kim, Woo-Chan Park, Jun Won Min, Jeeyeon Lee, Ji Young You, Jeong Eon Lee, Sung-Won Kim
Jung Yoon Choi, Sunho Choi, Minhyeok Lee, Young Soo Park, Jae Sook Sung, Won Jin Chang, Ju Won Kim, Yoon Ji Choi, Jin Kim, Dong-Sik Kim, Sung-Ho Lee, Junhee Seok, Kyong Hwa Park, Seon Hahn Kim, Yeul Hong Kim
Jin Hyoung Kang, Jung Hye Kwon, Yun-Gyoo Lee, Keon Uk Park, Ho Jung An, Joohyuk Sohn, Young Mi Seol, Hyunwoo Lee, Hwan-Jung Yun, Jin Seok Ahn ... [et al.]
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