Pre-clinical assessment of A-674563 as an anti-melanoma agent

Journal Article · Fri Aug 12 04:00:00 EDT 2016 · Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BBRC.2016.03.020· OSTI ID:22606143

Zou, Ying; Fan, Guobiao; Wang, Xuemin

The present study aims to investigate the anti-melanoma activity by an Akt1 specific inhibitor A-674563. We showed that A-674563 was anti-proliferative and cytotoxic when added to human melanoma cells (A375, WM-115 and SK-Mel-2 lines). A-674563 induced caspase-dependent apoptotic death of human melanoma cells, and its cytotoxicity was inhibited with pre-treatment of caspase inhibitors. Further, A-674563 treatment blocked Akt and its downstream S6 Kinase 1 (S6K1) activation in A375 melanoma cells. Significantly, restoring Akt-S6K1 activation via introduction of constitutively-active Akt1 (ca-Akt1) only partially attenuated A-674563's cytotoxicity against A375 cells. Further, A-674563 induced pro-apoptotic ceramide production in A375 cells. Significantly, sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) inhibited A-674563-induced ceramide production and subsequent A375 cell apoptosis. On the other hand, co-treatment with the glucosylceramide synthase (GCS) inhibitor PDMP or the cell permeable short-chain ceramide (C6) potentiated A-674563's cytotoxicity against A375 cells. In vivo, A-674563 oral gavage inhibited A375 xenograft growth in severe combined immunodeficiency (scid) mice. Akt inactivation, caspase-3 activation and ceramide production were also observed in A-674563-treated A375 xenografts. Together, these results suggest that A-674563 exerts potent anti-melanoma activity, involving Akt-dependent and Akt-independent mechanisms. - Highlights: • A-674563 inhibits human melanoma cell survival and proliferation. • A-674563 induces melanoma cell apoptotic death, inhibited by caspase inhibitors. • A-674563 inhibits melanoma cells via Akt-dependent and -independent mechanisms. • A-674563 induces ceramide production in melanoma cells, independent of Akt inhibition. • A-674563 oral administration potently inhibits A375 xenograft growth in mice.

• OSTI ID: 22606143
• Journal Information: Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Journal Name: Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 477; ISSN 0006-291X; ISSN BBRCA9
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
APOPTOSIS
CELL PROLIFERATION
IN VIVO
INACTIVATION
INHIBITION
MELANOMAS
MICE
ORAL ADMINISTRATION
PHOSPHATES
TOXICITY