Nelfinavir, an HIV protease inhibitor, induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in human cervical cancer cells via the ROS-dependent mitochondrial pathway

Cancer Lett. 2015 Aug 1;364(1):79-88. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2015.04.027. Epub 2015 Apr 29.

Abstract

HIV protease inhibitors (HIV-PIs) are a class of antiretroviral drugs designed to target the viral protease. Strikingly, these drugs have also been reported to possess antitumor effect. In this study, we evaluated the activity of one HIV-PI, Nelfinavir, against human cervical cancer cells. We found that Nelfinavir inhibited the growth of cervical cancer cell lines at the lowest micromolar concentrations clinically attainable. Nelfinavir promoted apoptosis and arrested the cell cycle at G1 phase. Apoptosis is attributed to the promotion of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, which results in the translocation of mitochondrial apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) to the nucleus. We further showed that Nelfinavir increased mitochondrial ROS production by decreasing manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) protein levels. Taken together, our results suggest that Nelfinavir can be repositioned as a cervical cancer therapeutic.

Keywords: Apoptosis; Cervical cancer; HIV protease inhibitor; Nelfinavir.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Female
  • HIV Protease Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / drug effects*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Nelfinavir / pharmacology*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / pathology*

Substances

  • HIV Protease Inhibitors
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Nelfinavir