TNFalpha potentiates 2-methoxyestradiol-induced mitochondrial death pathway

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2003 Dec:1010:159-62. doi: 10.1196/annals.1299.026.

Abstract

Ewing sarcoma cells are resistant to TNFalpha-induced cell death and this resistance results from the activation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB. Here, we investigated whether NF-kappaB activation interferes with 2-Me-induced cell death signaling in Ewing sarcoma cells and we examined the effect of treatment of these cells with 2-Me either alone or in combination with TNFalpha. Our results show that TNFa cooperates with 2-Me to induce apoptosis in Ewing tumor cells through mitochondrial cell death signaling. These results suggest that the use of TNFalpha in combination with 2-Me may be beneficial for Ewing tumor treatment.

MeSH terms

  • 2-Methoxyestradiol
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Bone Neoplasms
  • Cell Death / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Drug Synergism
  • Estradiol / analogs & derivatives*
  • Estradiol / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Mitochondria / drug effects
  • Mitochondria / pathology*
  • Sarcoma, Ewing
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Estradiol
  • 2-Methoxyestradiol