The small organic compound HA14-1 prevents Bcl-2 interaction with Bax to sensitize malignant glioma cells to induction of cell death

Cancer Res. 2006 Mar 1;66(5):2757-64. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-05-2097.

Abstract

A functional imbalance between proapoptotic Bax and antiapoptotic Bcl-2 is likely to participate in the resistance of cancer cells to therapy. We show here that ethyl 2-amino-6-bromo-4-(1-cyano-2-ethoxy-2-oxoethyl)-4H-chromene-3-carboxylate (HA14-1), a small organic compound recently proposed to function as an inhibitor of Bcl-2, increases the sensitivity of human glioblastoma cells to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. This sensitizing effect is lost if Bcl-2 expression, but not Bcl-xL expression, is knocked down or if cells only express a mutant of Bax that does not interact with Bcl-2. This points to a specific Bcl-2 inhibitory function of HA14-1 and implies that it selectively involves hindrance of Bcl-2 binding to Bax, which HA14-1 inhibits in cell-free assays and in cells in receipt of an apoptotic stimulation. Moreover, HA14-1, in combination with a cytotoxic treatment, slows down the growth of glioblastoma in vivo. Thus, the inhibition of Bcl-2 achieved by HA14-1 might improve treatment outcome.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Apoptosis / radiation effects
  • Benzopyrans / pharmacology*
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • DNA Damage
  • Drug Synergism
  • Etoposide / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Glioblastoma / drug therapy*
  • Glioblastoma / metabolism*
  • Glioblastoma / pathology
  • Glioblastoma / radiotherapy
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nitriles / pharmacology*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / metabolism
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • BAX protein, human
  • Benzopyrans
  • Nitriles
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein
  • ethyl 2-amino-6-bromo-4-(1-cyano-2-ethoxy-2-oxoethyl)-4H-chromene-3-carboxylate
  • Etoposide