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  • Title: BH3 mimetic ABT-737 and a proteasome inhibitor synergistically kill melanomas through Noxa-dependent apoptosis.
    Author: Miller LA, Goldstein NB, Johannes WU, Walton CH, Fujita M, Norris DA, Shellman YG.
    Journal: J Invest Dermatol; 2009 Apr; 129(4):964-71. PubMed ID: 18987671.
    Abstract:
    The Bcl-2 family is important in modulating sensitivity to anticancer drugs in many cancers, including melanomas. The BH3 mimetic ABT-737 is a potent small molecule inhibitor of the anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2/Bcl-X(L)/Bcl-w. In this report, we examined whether ABT-737 is effective in killing melanoma cells in combination with the proteasome inhibitor MG-132, and further evaluated the mechanisms of action. Viability, morphological, and Annexin V apoptosis assays showed that ABT-737 alone exhibited little cytotoxicity, yet it displayed strong synergistic lethality when combined with MG-132. In addition, the detection of Bax/Bak activation indicated that the combination treatment synergistically induced mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. Furthermore, mechanistic analysis revealed that this combination treatment induced expression of the pro-apoptotic protein Noxa- and caspase-dependent degradation of the anti-apoptotic protein, Mcl-1. Finally, siRNA-mediated inhibition of Mcl-1 expression significantly increased sensitivity to ABT-737 in these cells, and knocking down Noxa expression protected the cells from cytotoxicity induced by the combination treatment. These findings demonstrate that ABT-737 combined with MG-132 synergistically induced Noxa-dependent mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis. In summary, this study indicates promising therapeutic potential of targeting anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members in treating melanoma, and it validates rational molecular approaches that target anti-apoptotic defenses when developing cancer treatments.
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