Received for publication May 23, 2007.
Revised June 18, 2007.
Accepted for publication June 18, 2007.

Low dose BBR3610 toxicity in colon cancer cells is p53-independent and enhanced by inhibition of ERBB1-PI3K signaling

Abstract

We have examined the mechanisms by which the multinuclear platinum chemotherapeutic BBR3610 kills human colon cancer cells. BBR3610 more efficiently killed HCT116, DLD1, SW480 and HT29 cells than BBR3464, cisplatin or oxaliplatin. The amount of platinum uptake per cell and its incorporation into DNA were identical for BBR3464 and BBR3610. BBR3610 lethality (IC75) was unaltered comparing HCT116 wild type and p53 -/- cells; was reduced in p21 -/- cells; and enhanced in K-RAS D13 null cells. Small molecule or molecular inhibition of ERBB1 or PI3K enhanced BBR3610 toxicity in HCT116, DLD1 and SW480 cells. Small molecule or molecular inhibition of caspase 8 function abolished the toxicity of BBR3610 and of BBR3610 + ERBB1 inhibitor treatments whereas inhibition of caspase 9 suppressed the ability of ERBB1 inhibitors to enhance BBR3610 lethality. Treatment with BBR3610 reduced AKT activity; expression of dominant negative AKT enhanced, and expression of constitutively active AKT suppressed, respectively, the toxicity of BBR3610 and of BBR3610 + ERBB1 inhibitor treatments. Treatment with BBR3610 reduced expression of c-FLIP-s and MCL-1, levels that were maintained in cells expressing constitutively active AKT. Over-expression of c-FLIP-s or loss of BID function suppressed BBR3610 toxicity whereas over-expression of XIAP or BCL-XL suppressed the potentiation of cell killing by ERBB1 inhibitors. Collectively our data argue that BBR3610 promotes cell killing via a caspase 8 -dependent mechanism which can be enhanced by ERBB1 / PI3K inhibitors that promote additional BBR3610-dependent cell killing via activation of BAX and caspase 9.

Key words: Protein Kinases (other), MAP Kinase, Mechanisms of cell killing/apoptosis