Martina Mikulandra1,2, Antonio Kobescak1, Benjamin Verillaud3,4, Pierre Busson3, Tanja Matijevic Glavan5. 1. Laboratory for Personalized Medicine, Division of Molecular Medicine, Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Bijenicka 54, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia. 2. Department of Radiotherapy and Medical Oncology, University Hospital for Tumors, University Hospital Centre Sisters of Mercy, Ilica 197, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia. 3. University Paris-Sud 11, CNRS-UMR 8126, Institut Gustave Roussy, 39 rue Camille Desmoulins, 94805, Villejuif cedex, France. 4. Department of Head and Neck surgery, Lariboisière Hospital, AP-HP, University Paris-Diderot Paris 7, Paris, France. 5. Laboratory for Personalized Medicine, Division of Molecular Medicine, Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Bijenicka 54, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia. tmatijev@irb.hr.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most common cancers. Concurrent radio-chemotherapy is the standard of care for advanced tumors. However, there is a need for more efficient regimens with less side effects resulting from high doses. Therefore, we set out to explore the therapeutic potential of ternary combinations by bringing together irradiation, cis-platinum and a TLR3 agonist, poly(I:C), with the aim to reduce the dosage of each treatment. This approach is based on our previous work, which revealed a selective cytotoxic effect of TLR3 agonists against malignant cells when combined with other anti-neoplastic agents. METHODS: We explored the survival of HNSCC-derived cells (Detroit 562, FaDu, SQ20B and Cal27) using MTT and caspase 3/7 activation assays. The radio-sensitization effects of poly(I:C) and cisplatin were assessed using Western blotting, cell cycle progression, ROS formation and qRT-PCR assays. RESULTS: We found that the combination of poly(I:C) and cisplatin downregulated c-IAP2 and survivin expression, reduced cell survival, induced anti-apoptotic gene expression and apoptosis, increased ROS formation and induced G2/M cell cycle arrest in the HNSCC-derived cells tested. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that a combined poly(I:C) and cisplatin treatment reduces the survival and induces the radio-sensitivity of HNSCC-derived cells, thus providing a rationale for the development of novel strategies for the treatment of head and neck cancer.
PURPOSE: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most common cancers. Concurrent radio-chemotherapy is the standard of care for advanced tumors. However, there is a need for more efficient regimens with less side effects resulting from high doses. Therefore, we set out to explore the therapeutic potential of ternary combinations by bringing together irradiation, cis-platinum and a TLR3 agonist, poly(I:C), with the aim to reduce the dosage of each treatment. This approach is based on our previous work, which revealed a selective cytotoxic effect of TLR3 agonists against malignant cells when combined with other anti-neoplastic agents. METHODS: We explored the survival of HNSCC-derived cells (Detroit 562, FaDu, SQ20B and Cal27) using MTT and caspase 3/7 activation assays. The radio-sensitization effects of poly(I:C) and cisplatin were assessed using Western blotting, cell cycle progression, ROS formation and qRT-PCR assays. RESULTS: We found that the combination of poly(I:C) and cisplatin downregulated c-IAP2 and survivin expression, reduced cell survival, induced anti-apoptotic gene expression and apoptosis, increased ROS formation and induced G2/M cell cycle arrest in the HNSCC-derived cells tested. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that a combined poly(I:C) and cisplatin treatment reduces the survival and induces the radio-sensitivity of HNSCC-derived cells, thus providing a rationale for the development of novel strategies for the treatment of head and neck cancer.
Entities:
Keywords:
Cisplatin; Head and neck cancer; Poly(I:C); Radio-sensitization; TLR3; Therapy