K252a induces anoikis-sensitization with suppression of cellular migration in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)--associated nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells.

Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China.

Investigational new drugs 2012 Feb

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Recent studies revealed an unexpected role of the neurotrophin receptor pathway, BDNF/TrkB signaling, in cancer metastasis and anoikis (i.e. detachment-induced cell death). Survival of cancer cells in detached state (known as anoikis-resistance) is known to be pre-requisite for metastasis. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), an endemic head and neck cancer in Southeast Asia, is highly invasive, metastatic, and etiologically associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV, an oncovirus) infection. Mechanistic studies on the invasive/metastatic nature of NPC can facilitate the development of anti-metastatic therapy in NPC. Thus far, the role of BDNF/TrkB signaling in virus-associated human cancer is unclear. Here, using multiple cell line models of NPC with EBV-association (HONE-1-EBV, HK1-LMP1 and C666-1), we investigated the potential involvement of BDNF/TrkB signaling in cellular migration and anoikis-resistant characteristics of NPC. We found that all three EBV-associated NPC cell lines tested were intrinsically anoikis-resistant (i.e. survived in detached state) and expressed both BDNF and TrkB. BDNF stimulation induced cellular migration, but not proliferation of these cells. Further, we examined if pharmacologic targeting of anoikis-resistance of NPC cells can be achievable by a proof-of-concept Trk inhibitor, K252a, in these EBV-associated NPC models. Our results demonstrated that K252a, was able to attenuate BDNF-induced migration and proliferation of NPC cells. More importantly, we demonstrated for the first time that K252a harbored potent anoikis-sensitization activity (i.e. sensitizing cancer cells to detachment-induced cell death) against EBV-associated human cancer cells, namely NPC cells. This proof-of-concept study demonstrated that K252a, a Trk inhibitor, can potentially be used as an anoikis-sensitizing agent in NPC.

Citation

Yuen-Keng Ng, Elaine Yue Ling Wong, Cecilia Pik Yuk Lau, Jessica Pui Lan Chan, Sze Chuen Cesar Wong, Andrew Sai-Kit Chan, Maggie Pui Chun Kwan, Sai-Wah Tsao, Chi-Man Tsang, Paul Bo San Lai, Anthony Tak Cheung Chan, Vivian Wai Yan Lui. K252a induces anoikis-sensitization with suppression of cellular migration in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)--associated nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. Investigational new drugs. 2012 Feb;30(1):48-58