xk-469 and Waldenstrom-Macroglobulinemia

We have previously reported that XK469 inhibited topoisomerase (topo) IIbeta, in Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia cell line (WSU-WM) however the inhibition alone is not sufficient to induce apoptosis. In this study, the apoptotic potential of XK469 and its mechanism in WSU-WM cell line was investigated. Exposure of WSU-WM cells to XK469 caused a decrease in viable cell number in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, XK469 caused the activation of caspase 3 resulting in subsequent cleavage of PARP. These events were preceded by the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria to the cytosol. Simultaneous exposure of cells to cyclosporin A prevented the release of cytochrome c to cytosol and reduced the loss of viability. XK469 caused the activation of p53 with up-regulation of p53-dependent proteins such as Bax, p21, Gadd 45 and cyclin B1 in association with G2M arrest. The addition of ubiquitin carboxyl terminal hydrolase (UCH-L1) inhibitor (NaBH4) inhibited up-regulation of p53 and p53 related molecules by XK469 and reduced the loss of viability. Pre-incubation with NOK-1, a monoclonal antibody that prevents Fas-Fas ligand interaction and is inhibitory to Fas signaling interfered with XK469 induced activation of caspase 8 and also reduced the loss of viability. Simultaneous exposure of all three inhibitors (cyclosporin A, NaBH4 and NOK-1) abrogated the toxicity of XK469 by 95%. These data define multiple sequences of biochemical events that mediate cell death induced by XK469. Our study suggests a complex mechanistic cascade of XK469-mediated apoptosis that involves Fas signaling pathway, ubiquitination, p53 activation and cytochrome c release.

Topics: Apoptosis; Blotting, Western; Caspase 3; Caspase 8; Caspase 9; Caspases; Cell Cycle; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Survival; Cyclosporine; Cytochromes c; Cytosol; Densitometry; DNA Damage; DNA Topoisomerases, Type II; DNA-Binding Proteins; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Electron Transport Complex IV; Enzyme Activation; Enzyme Inhibitors; Fas Ligand Protein; Fluorometry; Humans; Ligands; Membrane Glycoproteins; Mitochondria; Models, Biological; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; Quinoxalines; Signal Transduction; Time Factors; Topoisomerase II Inhibitors; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; Up-Regulation; Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia

We have previously reported that XK469 (2-[4-(7-chloro-2-quinoxalinyloxyphenoxy]-propionic acid) enhances topo IIalpha expression in WSU-WM cells in vitro [E. Mensah-Osman et al., Mol. Cancer Ther., 1: 1321-1326, 2002]. To test the hypothesis that XK469-induced expression of topo IIalpha sensitizes WSU-WM cells to the topo IIalpha inhibitor etoposide (VP-16), we investigated the antitumor effects of XK469 and VP-16 in vivo, using the WSU-WM SCID xenograft model. Individual dosages of XK469 at 20-60 mg/kg/injection i.v. for a maximum-tolerated dose of 240 mg/kg were achievable in SCID mice. Simultaneous administration of a subtherapeutic dose of XK469 (20 mg/kg) and VP-16 at its maximum-tolerated dose of 15 mg/kg proved to be highly toxic and lethal. However, daily sequential treatment of XK469 given i.v. via tail vein at 20 mg/kg for a total of 120 mg/kg, followed 7 h later by VP-16 i.p. at 15 mg/kg for a total of 90 mg/kg, had no significant toxicity in SCID mice. The sequential treatment was associated with enhanced antitumor activity. Tumor growth inhibition T/C, tumor growth delay T-C, and log(10) kill for XK469 alone were 61%, 3 days and 0.46; VP-16 alone 6%, 12 days and 1.83, respectively; whereas the sequential administration of both agents gave a T/C value of 0%, T-C value of 23 days and a log(10) kill of 3.5. On the basis of these animal results, we conclude that the sequential treatment of WSU-WM tumors with XK469 and VP-16 was highly active. The study supports our in vitro observation that XK469 potentiates VP-16 activity. The sequential use of both agents resulted in clinically significant antitumor activity in the WM model.

Topics: Animals; Cell Division; Etoposide; Humans; Mice; Mice, SCID; Quinoxalines; Transplantation, Heterologous; Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia

The role of DNA topoisomerase (Topo) IIbeta in cancer chemotherapy remains unclear, although this particular isoform has been implicated in drug resistance. In this study, we investigated Topo IIbeta as a target for 2-[4-(7-chloro-2-quinoxalinyloxy)phenoxy]-propionic acid (XK469), a novel synthetic quinoxaline phenoxypropionic acid derivative, in a Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM) model. In vitro, the WSU-WM cell line was exposed to 1.0, 2.0, 5.0, 8.0, and 10 microM XK469. Our results demonstrate a concentration-dependent cell growth inhibition with a concentration-independent inhibition of Topo IIbeta, as determined by band depletion assay. The cell growth inhibition of cells correlated well with increase in Bax:Bcl-2 ratio and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage. We used our established WSU-WM severe combined immunodeficient mouse xenograft model to test the efficacy and effect of XK469 on Topo IIbeta in vivo. Topo IIbeta was inhibited equally using two different dose schedules (20 and 40 mg/kg, i.v., for a total of 120 and 240 mg/kg, respectively); however, there was no significant decrease in tumor weight. Western blot analysis of cells isolated from s.c. tumors showed no induction of the Bax protein and a very low Bax:Bcl-2 ratio of approximately 0.3 in correlation with minimum PARP cleavage. Our study shows that XK469 inhibits Topo IIbeta in WSU-WM cells both in vitro and in vivo at or below the maximum tolerated dose in severe combined immunodeficient mice. However, there was no change of apoptosis-related molecules such as PARP, Bax, and Bcl-2 or reduction in tumor weight in association with Topo IIbeta inhibition. We conclude that Topo IIbeta inhibition by XK469 as a target is not sufficient for therapeutic effects in WSU-WM.

Topics: Animals; Blotting, Western; Cell Division; Disease Models, Animal; DNA Topoisomerases, Type II; DNA-Binding Proteins; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Enzyme Inhibitors; Female; Humans; Mice; Mice, SCID; Neoplasm Transplantation; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; Quinoxalines; Time Factors; Topoisomerase II Inhibitors; Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia

Topoisomerase (Topo) IIalpha has proven to be an adequate anticancer target for tumors expressing this enzyme. In this study, we elucidated the effect of 2-[4-(7-chloro-2-quinoxalinyloxyphenoxy]-propionic acid (XK469; a new Topo IIbeta inhibitor) in the modulation of Topo IIalpha levels and sensitivity to Topo IIalpha poisons. We demonstrate by Western blot analysis that indolent B-cell tumors express undetectable levels of this enzyme and are refractory to the effects of Topo IIalpha poisons such as VP16. Using the Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM) cell line WSU-WM, we show that XK469 induced the expression of Topo IIalpha protein by 24 h compared with control. Immunofluorescence studies by confocal microscopy using a specific monoclonal antibody against Topo IIalpha supported the immunoblot findings with high intensity staining in XK469-exposed cells. To determine the effect of up-regulating Topo IIalpha on sensitivity of Topo IIalpha-directed inhibitors, WSU-WM cells were exposed to simultaneous, sequential, and reverse order XK469 and VP16. We demonstrate that 24 h of exposure to XK469 before VP16 resulted in a maximum synergistic response. In contrast, simultaneous or reverse order exposure resulted in an antagonistic effect. A similar trend was observed with cells obtained from chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients, but not in normal lymphocytes. This increase in VP16 sensitivity after 24 h of XK469 exposure was associated with VP16-dependent DNA cleavage, as demonstrated by formation of a smeared DNA band in a SDS-KCL DNA cleavage assay. From this study, we concluded that XK469 up-regulates Topo IIalpha levels and consequently sensitizes indolent malignant B cells to the cytotoxic effect of VP16 in a schedule-dependent manner.

Topics: Antigens, Neoplasm; Blotting, Western; Culture Media, Serum-Free; DNA; DNA Topoisomerases, Type II; DNA-Binding Proteins; Enzyme Inhibitors; Etoposide; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell; Microscopy, Confocal; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Neoplasm Transplantation; Protein Isoforms; Quinoxalines; Time Factors; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Up-Regulation; Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia