Objective: In most endometrial carcinoma, it has been observed that the PI3K/Akt pathway is abnormally accelerated in association with mutations in PIK3CA and PTEN. The present study aimed to examine the combined effect of a novel histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor OBP-801/YM753 and a PI3K inhibitor LY294002 against human endometrial carcinoma cells.
Methods: The effects of OBP-801/YM753 and LY294002 on the growth of human endometrial carcinoma HEC-1A cells were examined using WST-8 and colony formation assays. The distribution of the cell cycle or apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. The accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured with a 5-(and-6)-chloromethyl-2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate, acetyl ester (CM-H2DCFDA) dye. The expression of apoptosis-related proteins was investigated by Western blotting. Mice engrafted with 1×10(8) HEC-1A cells were treated with OBP-801/YM753, LY294002 or the combination, and tumor volumes were measured.
Results: The combination of OBP-801/YM753 and LY294002 significantly inhibited the cell growth on comparison with each agent alone and synergistically increased apoptosis with the induction of Bim, a well-known apoptosis inducer. Additionally, the apoptosis induced by the combination was shown to be dependent on intracellular ROS accumulation and Bim induction. Moreover, the apoptosis-inducing effect of OBP-801/YM753 with LY294002 was more potent than that of SAHA with LY294002. Combined treatment with OBP-801/YM753 and LY294002 significantly suppressed tumor growth compared to the control in vivo.
Conclusions: The combination of OBP-801/YM753 and LY294002 is effective on the inhibition of the growth of HEC-1A cells, and we suggest that this combination is promising a novel therapeutic strategy for endometrial carcinoma.
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