The glutamate release inhibitor Riluzole decreases migration, invasion, and proliferation of melanoma cells

J Invest Dermatol. 2010 Sep;130(9):2240-9. doi: 10.1038/jid.2010.126. Epub 2010 May 27.

Abstract

The goal of this study was to examine the effects of metabotropic glutamate receptor-1 (GRM1) blockade on melanoma anchorage-independent growth and invasion. We performed colony and invasion assays using GRM1-expressing melanoma lines and the GRM1-negative UACC930 line. Using the glutamate-release inhibitor Riluzole or the non-competitive GRM1 antagonist BAY 36-7620 we were able to induce considerable inhibition of colony formation and invasion in GRM1-expressing melanoma lines. Neither pharmacological agent induced significant reduction in colony formation or invasion in the GRM1-negative melanoma line, UACC930. Additionally we assessed the efficacy of these inhibitors to inhibit the growth of fresh melanoma tumor samples cultured on a 74-mum nylon mesh. Both Riluzole and BAY 36-7620 significantly inhibited tumor cell growth into the interstitial spaces of the mesh. When repeated with normal mole samples both inhibitors were much less effective in preventing the outgrowth of cells. These experiments show that a specific antagonist of GRM1 (BAY 36-7620) or an inhibitor of glutamate release (Riluzole) can significantly suppress melanoma migration, invasion and colony formation as well as inhibit the proliferation of fresh melanoma cells. These findings, added to our previous work, strengthen the case that GRM1 is a valid therapeutic target in patients with melanoma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Division / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / pharmacology*
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / metabolism
  • Glutamic Acid / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Melanoma / drug therapy*
  • Melanoma / metabolism
  • Melanoma / pathology
  • Naphthalenes / pharmacology
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Organ Culture Techniques
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / metabolism
  • Riluzole / pharmacology*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Skin Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Skin Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • BAY36-7620
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists
  • Naphthalenes
  • Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate
  • metabotropic glutamate receptor type 1
  • Glutamic Acid
  • Riluzole
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases