The quassinoid derivative NBT-272 targets both the AKT and ERK signaling pathways in embryonal tumors

  • Deborah Castelletti
  • , Giulio Fiaschetti
  • , Valeria Di Dato
  • , Urs Ziegler
  • , Candy Kumps
  • , Katleen De Preter
  • , Massimo Zollo
  • , Frank Speleman
  • , Tarek Shalaby
  • , Daniela De Martino
  • , Thorsten Berg
  • , Angelika Eggert
  • , Alexandre Arcaro
  • , Michael A. Grotzer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

The quassinoid analogue NBT-272 has been reported to inhibit MYC, thus warranting a further effort 7to better understand its preclinical properties in models of embryonal tumors (ET), a family of childhood malignancies sharing relevant biological and genetic features such as deregulated expression of MYC oncogenes. In our study, NBT-272 displayed a strong antiproliferative activity in vitro that resulted from the combination of diverse biological effects, ranging from G1/S arrest of the cell cycle to apoptosis and autophagy. The compound prevented the full activation of both eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) and its binding protein 4EBP-1, regulating cap-dependent protein translation. Interestingly, all responses induced by NBT-272 in ET could be attributed to interference with 2 main proproliferative signaling pathways, that is, the AKT and the MEK/extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathways. These findings also suggested that the depleting effect of NBT-272 on MYC protein expression occurred via indirect mechanisms, rather than selective inhibition. Finally, the ability of NBT-272 to arrest tumor growth in a xenograft model of neuroblastoma plays a role in the strong antitumor activity of this compound, both in vitro and in vivo, with its potential to target cell-survival pathways that are relevant for the development and progression of ET.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3145-3157
Number of pages13
JournalMolecular Cancer Therapeutics
Volume9
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2010
Externally publishedYes

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