Inhibiting WEE1 Augments the Antitumor Efficacy of Cisplatin in Urothelial Carcinoma by Enhancing the DNA Damage Process
Yu-Li Su,
Ling-Yi Xiao,
Shih-Yu Huang,
Chia-Che Wu,
Li-Chung Chang,
Yi-Hua Chen,
Hao-Lun Luo,
Chun-Chieh Huang,
Ting-Ting Liu,
Jei-Ming Peng
Affiliations
Yu-Li Su
Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
Ling-Yi Xiao
Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
Shih-Yu Huang
Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
Chia-Che Wu
Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
Li-Chung Chang
Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
Yi-Hua Chen
Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
Hao-Lun Luo
Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
Chun-Chieh Huang
Department of Radiation Oncology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
Ting-Ting Liu
Department of Pathology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
Jei-Ming Peng
Institute for Translational Research in Biomedicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
Urothelial carcinoma (UC) is characterized by a high incidence of TP53 mutation, and overcoming resistance to cisplatin-based chemotherapy in UC is a major concern. Wee1 is a G2/M phase regulator that controls the DNA damage response to chemotherapy in TP53-mutant cancers. The combination of Wee1 blockade with cisplatin has shown synergistic efficacy in several types of cancers, but little is known regarding UC. The antitumor efficacy of the Wee1 inhibitor (AZD-1775) alone or in combination with cisplatin was evaluated in UC cell lines and a xenograft mouse model. AZD-1775 enhanced the anticancer activity of cisplatin by increasing cellular apoptosis. AZD-1775 inhibited the G2/M checkpoint, improving the sensitivity of mutant TP53 UC cells to cisplatin by enhancing the DNA damage process. We confirmed that AZD-1775 combined with cisplatin reduced tumor volume and proliferation activity and increased the markers of cell apoptosis and DNA damage in the mouse xenograft model. In summary, the Wee1 inhibitor AZD-1775 combined with cisplatin elicited a promising anticancer efficacy in UC, and constitutes an innovative and promising therapeutic strategy.
