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Research Articles: Therapeutics, Targets, and Development

Dual mechanisms of action of the 5-benzylidene-hydantoin UPR1024 on lung cancer cell lines

¹ Department of Experimental Medicine and ² Pharmaceutical Department, University of Parma, Parma, Italy

Requests for reprints: Roberta R. Alfieri, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Via Volturno 39 43100 Parma, Italy. Phone: 39-521-033766; Fax: 39-521-033742. E-mail: roberta.alfieri{at}unipr.it

Abstract

In this study, we examined the mechanism of action of the novel epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor 5-benzylidene-hydantoin UPR1024, whose structure was designed to interact at the ATP-binding site of EGFR. The compound had antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects when tested on the non–small cell lung cancer cell line A549. The growth inhibitory effect was associated with an accumulation of the cells in the S phase of the cell cycle. Moreover, UPR1024 induced significant level of DNA strand breaks associated with increased expression of p53 and p21^WAF1 proteins, suggesting an additive mechanism of action. The presence of wild-type p53 improved the drug efficacy, although the effect was also detectable in p53 null cells. We also noted apoptotic cell death after treatment with UPR1024 at concentrations above 10 µmol/L for >24 h, with involvement of both the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways. The present data show that UPR1024 may be considered a combi-molecule capable of both blocking EGFR tyrosine kinase activity and inducing genomic DNA damage. UPR1024 or its derivatives might serve as a basis for development of drugs for the treatment of lung cancer in patients resistant to classic tyrosine kinase inhibitors. [Mol Cancer Ther 2008;7(2):361–70]

Grant support: Regione Emilia Romagna, Associazione Chiara Tassoni (Parma, Italy), A.VO.PRO.RI.T. (Parma, Italy), and Associazione Davide Rodella (Montichiari, Italy).

The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked advertisement in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.

Received 7/17/07; revised 11/29/07; accepted 12/28/07.