Aim: Inhibition of heat shock protein (Hsp90) has been proven to be effective in overriding primary and acquired resistance of kinase inhibitors. In this study, we investigated the role of FS-108, a newly developed Hsp90 inhibitor, to overcome gefitinib resistance in EGFR mutant non-small cell lung cancer cells. Methods: Cell proliferation was assessed using the SRB assay. Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry. Protein expression was examined by Western blotting. The in vivo effectiveness of FS-108 was determined in an NCI-H1975 subcutaneous xenograft model. Results: FS-108 triggered obvious growth inhibition in gefitinib-resistant HCC827/GR6, NCI-H1650 and NCI-H1975 cells through inducing G(2)/M phase arrest and apoptosis. FS-108 treatment resulted in a remarkable degradation of key client proteins involved in gefitinib resistance and further abrogated their downstream signaling pathways. Interestingly, FS-108 alone exerted an identical or superior effect on circumventing gefitinib resistance compared to combined kinase inhibition. Finally, the ability of FS-108 to overcome gefitinib resistance in vivo was validated in an NCI-H1975 xenograft model. Conclusion: FS-108 is a powerful agent that impacts the survival of gefitinib-resistant cells in vitro and in vivo through targeting Hsp90.
基金:
Natural Science Foundation of China for Innovation Research Group to Jian DING
(No 81321092); the Personalized Medicines-Molecular
Signature-based Drug Discovery and Development, the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of
Sciences to Jian DING and Ai-jun SHEN (No XDA12020101 and XDA12020105); the National Natural Science Foundation
of China to Jian DING and Ai-jun SHEN (No 91229205 and
81402966); and the Shanghai Science and Technology Committee Foundation to Min ZHENG (No 124119b1900).