Inhibition of Bcl-2/Bcl-xL and c-MET causes synthetic lethality in model systems of glioblastoma

Sci Rep. 2018 May 9;8(1):7373. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-25802-0.

Abstract

Recent data suggest that glioblastomas (GBM) activate the c-MET signaling pathway and display increased levels in anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members. Therefore, targeting these two deregulated pathways for therapy might yield synergistic treatment responses. We applied extracellular flux analysis to assess tumor metabolism. We found that combined treatment with ABT263 and Crizotinib synergistically reduces the proliferation of glioblastoma cells, which was dependent on dual inhibition of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. The combination treatment led to enhanced apoptosis with loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and activation of caspases. On the molecular level, c-MET-inhibition results in significant energy deprivation with a reduction in oxidative phosphorylation, respiratory capacity and a suppression of intracellular energy production (ATP). In turn, loss of energy levels suppresses protein synthesis, causing a decline in anti-apoptotic Mcl-1 levels. Silencing of Mcl-1 enhanced ABT263 and MET-inhibitor mediated apoptosis, but marginally the combination treatment, indicating that Mcl-1 is the central factor for the induction of cell death induced by the combination treatment. Finally, combined treatment with BH3-mimetics and c-MET inhibitors results in significantly smaller tumors than each treatment alone in a PDX model system of glioblastoma. These results suggest that c-MET inhibition causes a selective vulnerability of GBM cells to Bcl-2/Bcl-xL inhibition.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Aniline Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Crizotinib / pharmacology
  • Drug Synergism
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress / drug effects
  • Energy Metabolism / drug effects
  • Glioblastoma / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein / metabolism
  • Oxidative Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Sulfonamides / pharmacology*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
  • bcl-X Protein / antagonists & inhibitors*

Substances

  • Aniline Compounds
  • MCL1 protein, human
  • Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein
  • PMAIP1 protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • Sulfonamides
  • bcl-X Protein
  • Crizotinib
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met
  • navitoclax