Recommended Citation
Thamilselvan V, Menon M, Stein GS, Valeriote F, and Thamilselvan S. Combination of carmustine and selenite Inhibits EGFR mediated growth signaling in androgen-independent prostate cancer cells. J Cell Biochem 2017; 118(12):4331-4340.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-1-2017
Publication Title
Journal of cellular biochemistry
Abstract
Although aberrant androgen receptor (AR) signaling is a central mechanism for castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) progression, AR-independent growth signaling is also present in CRPC. The current therapeutic options for patients with CRPC are limited and new drugs are desperately needed to eliminate these crucial growth signaling pathways. We have previously shown that combination of carmustine and selenite effectively induces apoptosis and growth inhibition by targeting AR and AR-variants in CRPC cells. High levels of EGFR expression present in the CRPC cells mediates the cell proliferation via AR-independent growth signaling mechanisms. Therefore, in this study, we investigated whether the combination of carmustine and selenite could inhibit EGFR mediated growth signaling and induce apoptosis in androgen independent-AR negative prostate cancer cells. EGF exposure dose and time dependently increased phospho-EGFR (Tyr845, Tyr1068, and Tyr1045), pAkt (Ser473), and pERK1/2 (Thr204/Tyr202) protein expression levels in AIPC cells. Combination of carmustine and selenite treatment markedly suppressed EGF-stimulated proliferation and survival of AIPC cells and effectively induced apoptosis. The ROS generated by the combination of carmustine and selenite exhibited a strong inhibition on EGF stimulated EGFR and its downstream signaling molecules such as Akt, NF-kB, ERK1/2, and Cyclin D1. Individual agent treatment showed only partial effect. Overall, our findings demonstrated that the combination of carmustine and selenite treatment dramatically inhibits EGFR signaling, proliferation, and induces apoptosis in AIPC cells, suggesting a potential candidate for the treatment of CRPC. The results of the study further suggest that the combination of carmustine and selenite treatment can overcome EGFR mediated AR-independent growth response in CRPC during anti-androgen therapy.
Medical Subject Headings
Apoptosis; Carmustine; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; ErbB Receptors; Humans; MAP Kinase Signaling System; Male; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; NF-kappa B; Prostatic Neoplasms; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Selenious Acid
PubMed ID
28430389
Volume
118
Issue
12
First Page
4331
Last Page
4340
