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Docetaxel and bortezomib downregulate Bcl-2 and sensitize PC-3-Bcl-2 expressing prostate cancer cells to irradiation

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Abstract

Background

Currently, docetaxel is used to treat hormone-refractory metastatic prostate cancer. Docetaxel not only inhibits microtubule formation but can also downregulate expression of Bcl-2, a known antiapoptotic oncogene. Furthermore, the 26S proteasome inhibitor bortezomib can downregulate Bcl-2 expression. Previously, we demonstrated that overexpression of Bcl-2 renders cells resistant to radiation therapy. In this study, we investigated whether treating human prostate cancer cells with docetaxel, bortezomib, or both could modulate Bcl-2 expression and whether such modulation could render Bcl-2-overexpressing cells more susceptible to radiation.

Methods

PC-3-Bcl-2 and PC-3-Neo human prostate cancer cells treated with docetaxel and/or bortezomib in addition to irradiation were analyzed in vitro for proliferation, clonogenic survival, cell cycle phase distribution, and expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL proteins.

Results

Docetaxel and bortezomib alone had significant cytotoxic effects. In addition, docetaxel, bortezomib, or radiation resulted in a G2M phase arrest in PC-3-Bcl-2, whereas only docetaxel or radiation did so in PC-3-Neo cells. Both cell lines were more sensitized to radiation’s killing effects when treated with the combination of docetaxel and bortezomib than when treated with either agent alone. Furthermore, docetaxel and bortezomib-treated cells exhibited marked changes in the expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL.

Conclusions

This is the first study to demonstrate that docetaxel and bortezomib in combination can effectively sensitize Bcl-2-overexpressing human prostate cancer cells to radiation effects by modulating the expression of key members of the Bcl-2 family. Together, these findings warrant further evaluation of the combination of docetaxel and bortezomib in prostate cancer.

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Conflict of interest statement

There is no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Suite N215, P. O. Box 100247, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA

    Wengang Cao, Kazunori Namiki, Yoshihisa Sakai, Stacy Porvasnik, Cydney Urbanek & Charles J. Rosser

  2. Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Kathleen T. Shiverick & Charles J. Rosser

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  1. Wengang Cao
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  2. Kathleen T. Shiverick
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  3. Kazunori Namiki
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  4. Yoshihisa Sakai
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  5. Stacy Porvasnik
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  6. Cydney Urbanek
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  7. Charles J. Rosser
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Correspondence to Charles J. Rosser.

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Cao, W., Shiverick, K.T., Namiki, K. et al. Docetaxel and bortezomib downregulate Bcl-2 and sensitize PC-3-Bcl-2 expressing prostate cancer cells to irradiation. World J Urol 26, 509–516 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-008-0289-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-008-0289-5

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