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The small molecule inhibitor YK-4-279 disrupts mitotic progression of neuroblastoma cells, overcomes drug resistance and synergizes with inhibitors of mitosis

Kollareddy, Madhu, Sherrard, Alice, Park, Ji Hyun, Szemes, Marianna, Gallacher, Kelli, Melegh, Zsombor, Oltean, Sebastian, Michaelis, Martin, Cinatl, Jindrich, Kaidi, Abderrahmane, and others. (2017) The small molecule inhibitor YK-4-279 disrupts mitotic progression of neuroblastoma cells, overcomes drug resistance and synergizes with inhibitors of mitosis. Cancer Letters, 403 . pp. 74-85. ISSN 0304-3835. (doi:10.1016/j.canlet.2017.05.027) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:62239)

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Official URL:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.canlet.2017.05.027

Abstract

Neuroblastoma is a biologically and clinically heterogeneous pediatric malignancy that includes a highrisk subset for which new therapeutic agents are urgently required. As well as MYCN amplification, activating point mutations of ALK and NRAS are associated with high-risk and relapsing neuroblastoma. As both ALK and RAS signal through the MEK/ERK pathway, we sought to evaluate two previously reported inhibitors of ETS-related transcription factors, which are transcriptional mediators of the RasMEK/ERK pathway in other cancers. Here we show that YK-4-279 suppressed growth and triggered apoptosis in nine neuroblastoma cell lines, while BRD32048, another ETV1 inhibitor, was ineffective. These results suggest that YK-4-279 acts independently of ETS-related transcription factors. Further analysis reveals that YK-4-279 induces mitotic arrest in prometaphase, resulting in subsequent cell death. Mechanistically, we show that YK-4-279 inhibits the formation of kinetochore microtubules, with treated cells showing a broad range of abnormalities including multipolar, fragmented and unseparated spindles, together leading to disrupted progression through mitosis. Notably, YK-4-279 does not affect microtubule acetylation, unlike the conventional mitotic poisons paclitaxel and vincristine. Consistent with this, we demonstrate that YK-4-279 overcomes vincristine-induced resistance in two neuroblastoma cell-line models. Furthermore, combinations of YK-4-279 with vincristine, paclitaxel or the Aurora kinase A inhibitor MLN8237/Alisertib show strong synergy, particularly at low doses. Thus, YK-4-279 could potentially be used as a single-agent or in combination therapies for the treatment of high-risk and relapsing neuroblastoma, as well as other cancers.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1016/j.canlet.2017.05.027
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Biosciences
Depositing User: Martin Michaelis
Date Deposited: 07 Jul 2017 15:34 UTC
Last Modified: 04 Mar 2024 18:54 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/62239 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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