Bortezomib and SAHA synergistically induce ROS-driven caspase-dependent apoptosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and block replication of Epstein-Barr virus

• Published in: Molecular cancer therapeutics Vol. 12; no. 5; pp. 747 - 758
• Main Authors: Hui, Kwai Fung, Lam, Benjamin H W, Ho, Dona N, Tsao, Sai Wah, Chiang, Alan K S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.05.2013
• Subjects: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents - chemistry; Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; Antineoplastic Agents - toxicity; Apoptosis - drug effects; Boronic Acids - chemistry; Boronic Acids - pharmacology; Boronic Acids - toxicity; Bortezomib; Carcinoma; Caspases - metabolism; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Drug Synergism; Female; Herpesvirus 4, Human - drug effects; Herpesvirus 4, Human - physiology; Heterografts; Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors - chemistry; Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors - pharmacology; Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors - toxicity; Humans; Hydroxamic Acids - chemistry; Hydroxamic Acids - pharmacology; Hydroxamic Acids - toxicity; Mice; Mice, Nude; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms - metabolism; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms - pathology; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms - virology; Pyrazines - chemistry; Pyrazines - pharmacology; Pyrazines - toxicity; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; Signal Transduction - drug effects; Tumor Burden - drug effects; Virus Replication - drug effects; Vorinostat
• ISSN: 1535-7163; 1538-8514
• DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-12-0811

A novel drug combination of a proteasome inhibitor, bortezomib, and a histone deacetylase inhibitor, suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), was tested in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), both in vitro and in vivo. Dose-response of different concentrations of bortezomib and SAHA on inhibition of cell proliferation of NPC was determined. Mechanisms of apoptosis and effects on lytic cycle activation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) were investigated. Combination of bortezomib and SAHA (bortezomib/SAHA) synergistically induced killing of a panel of NPC cell lines. Pronounced increase in sub-G1, Annexin V-positive, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cell populations were detected after treatment with bortezomib/SAHA when compared with either drug alone. Concomitantly, markedly augmented proteolytic cleavage of PARP, caspase-3, -7, -8, and -9, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and caspase-8-dependent histone acetylation were observed. ROS scavenger, N-acetyl cysteine, diminished the apoptotic effects of bortezomib/SAHA, whereas caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK significantly suppressed the apoptosis without decreasing the generation of ROS. Bortezomib inhibited SAHA's induction of EBV replication and abrogated production of infectious viral particles in NPC cells. Furthermore, bortezomib/SAHA potently induced apoptosis and suppressed the growth of NPC xenografts in nude mice. In conclusion, the novel drug combination of bortezomib and SAHA is highly synergistic in the killing of NPC cells in vitro and in vivo. The major mechanism of cell death is ROS-driven caspase-dependent apoptosis. Bortezomib antagonizes SAHA's activation of EBV lytic cycle in NPC cells. This study provides a strong basis for clinical testing of the combination drug regimen in patients with NPC.