Co-administration of perifosine with paclitaxel synergistically induces apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells: more than just AKT inhibition

Cancer Lett. 2011 Nov 1;310(1):118-28. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2011.06.010. Epub 2011 Jun 29.

Abstract

Here we report an oral alkylphospholipid perifosine dramatically sensitizes chemo-resistant ovarian cancer cells to paclitaxel induced cell death and apoptosis in vitro. We found that co-administration perifosine with paclitaxel in human ovarian cancer cells led to the inhibition of AKT/mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1), a marked increase in ceramide and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and a striking increase in the activation of pro-apoptosis pathways, including caspase 3, c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). These signaling events together caused a marked increase of cancer cell apoptosis. Combining paclitaxel with perifosine may represent a novel anti-ovarian cancer strategy.

MeSH terms

  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / genetics
  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Caspase 3 / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Ceramides / metabolism
  • Drug Synergism
  • Female
  • HT29 Cells
  • Humans
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology
  • Paclitaxel / pharmacology*
  • Phosphorylcholine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Phosphorylcholine / pharmacology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • RNA Interference
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Ceramides
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Phosphorylcholine
  • perifosine
  • MTOR protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases
  • PRKAA1 protein, human
  • Caspase 3
  • Paclitaxel