Targeting glutathione-S transferase enzymes in musculoskeletal sarcomas: a promising therapeutic strategy

Anal Cell Pathol (Amst). 2011;34(3):131-45. doi: 10.3233/ACP-2011-012.

Abstract

Recent studies have indicated that targeting glutathione-S-transferase (GST) isoenzymes may be a promising novel strategy to improve the efficacy of conventional chemotherapy in the three most common musculoskeletal tumours: osteosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma. By using a panel of 15 drug-sensitive and drug-resistant human osteosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines, the efficay of the GST-targeting agent 6-(7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazol-4-ylthio)hexanol (NBDHEX) has been assessed and related to GST isoenzymes expression (namely GSTP1, GSTA1, GSTM1, and MGST). NBDHEX showed a relevant in vitro activity on all cell lines, including the drug-resistant ones and those with higher GSTs levels. The in vitro activity of NBDHEX was mostly related to cytostatic effects, with a less evident apoptotic induction. NBDHEX positively interacted with doxorubicin, vincristine, cisplatin but showed antagonistic effects with methotrexate. In vivo studies confirmed the cytostatic efficay of NBDHEX and its positive interaction with vincristine in Ewing's sarcoma cells, and also indicated a positive effect against the metastatisation of osteosarcoma cells. The whole body of evidence found in this study indicated that targeting GSTs in osteosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma may be an interesting new therapeutic option, which can be considered for patients who are scarcely responsive to conventional regimens.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Bone Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Bone Neoplasms / enzymology
  • Bone Neoplasms / mortality
  • Bone Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cisplatin / administration & dosage
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Doxorubicin / administration & dosage
  • Drug Interactions
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / administration & dosage
  • Glutathione Transferase / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Glutathione Transferase / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Isoenzymes
  • Methotrexate / administration & dosage
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Muscle Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Muscle Neoplasms / enzymology
  • Muscle Neoplasms / mortality
  • Muscle Neoplasms / pathology
  • Muscle, Skeletal / drug effects*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / enzymology
  • Muscle, Skeletal / pathology
  • Oxadiazoles / administration & dosage
  • Sarcoma / drug therapy*
  • Sarcoma / enzymology
  • Sarcoma / mortality
  • Sarcoma / secondary
  • Time Factors
  • Tumor Burden / drug effects
  • Vincristine / administration & dosage
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • 6-(7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazol-4-ylthio)hexanol
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Isoenzymes
  • Oxadiazoles
  • Vincristine
  • Doxorubicin
  • Glutathione Transferase
  • Cisplatin
  • Methotrexate