Sunitinib Malate Synergistically Potentiates Anti-Tumor Effect of Gemcitabine in Human Bladder Cancer Cells.
- Author:
Cheol Yong YOON
1
;
Jung Sun LEE
;
Bo Sun KIM
;
Seong Jin JEONG
;
Sung Kyu HONG
;
Seok Soo BYUN
;
Sang Eun LEE
Author Information
- Publication Type:In Vitro ; Original Article
- Keywords: Carcinoma; Cisplatin; Gemcitabine; Sunitinib; Urinary bladder
- MeSH: Apoptosis; Carcinoma, Renal Cell; Cell Cycle; Cell Line; Cisplatin; Cyclin B1; Cyclin D; Deoxycytidine; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors; Humans; Indoles; New York; Pyrroles; Sincalide; Urinary Bladder; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms
- From:Korean Journal of Urology 2011;52(1):55-63
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: PURPOSE: Sunitinib malate (Sutent; Pfizer, New York, NY, USA) is a highly selective multi-targeted agent and has been reported to have potent anti-tumor effects against various tumors, including renal cell carcinoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumors. In this study, we explored in vitro the anti-tumor effect and related molecular mechanisms of sunitinib malate against human bladder cancer cell lines. We also determined the synergistic anti-tumor effect between sunitinib and conventional cytotoxic drugs, cisplatin and gemcitabine, in bladder cancer cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six human cancer cell lines (HTB5, HTB9, T24, UMUC14, SW1710, and J82) were exposed to an escalating dose of sunitinib alone or in combination with cisplatin/gemcitabine, and the cytotoxic effect of the drugs was examined by CCK-8 assay. The synergistic effect between sunitinib and cisplatin/gemcitabine was determined by the combination index (CI) and clonogenic assay. Alterations in cell cycle (cyclin D, B1), survival (p-Akt, t-Akt), and apoptosis (Bax, Bad) regulator expression were analyzed by Western blotting. RESULTS: Like cisplatin and gemcitabine, sunitinib exerted a dose- and time-dependent anti-tumor effect in bladder cancer cells. However, sunitinib exhibited entirely different sensitivity profiles from cisplatin and gemcitabine. Sunitinib suppressed the expression of cyclin B1, p-Akt, and t-Akt while augmenting the expression of cyclin D and pro-apoptotic Bax and Bad in HTB5 cells. Analysis of the drug combination by the isobolic method and clonogenic assay revealed that sunitinib acts in synergy with gemcitabine in HTB5 cells. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that sunitinib malate has a potent anti-tumor effect and may synergistically enhance the anti-tumor effect of gemcitabine in human bladder cancer cells.
