Silencing of pkm2 increases the efficacy of docetaxel in human lung cancer xenografts in mice

Cancer Sci. 2010 Jun;101(6):1447-53. doi: 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2010.01562.x. Epub 2010 Mar 15.

Abstract

Tumor aerobic glycolysis, or the Warburg effect, plays important roles in tumor survival, growth, and metastasis. Pyruvate kinase isoenzyme M2 (PKM2) is a key enzyme that regulates aerobic glycolysis in tumor cells. Recent research has shown that PKM2 can be used as a tumor marker for diagnosis and, in particular, as a potential target for cancer therapy. We investigated the effects of combining shRNA targeting PKM2 and docetaxel on human A549 lung carcinoma cells both in vivo and in vitro. We observed that the shRNA can significantly downregulate the expression level of PKM2. The decrease of PKM2 resulted in a decrease in ATP synthesis, which caused intracellular accumulation of docetaxel. Furthermore, the combination of pshRNA-pkm2 and docetaxel inhibited tumor growth and promoted more cancer cell apoptosis both in vivo and in vitro. Our findings suggest that targeting tumor glycolysis can increase the efficacy of chemotherapy. In particular, the targeting of PKM2 could, to some extent, be a new way of reversing chemotherapy resistance to cancer therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphate / analysis
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / therapeutic use*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Docetaxel
  • Female
  • Gene Silencing
  • Glycolysis / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Lung Neoplasms / enzymology
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Pyruvate Kinase / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Pyruvate Kinase / genetics
  • Pyruvate Kinase / physiology*
  • RNA Interference
  • Taxoids / therapeutic use*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Taxoids
  • Docetaxel
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • Pyruvate Kinase