Acetylsalicylic acid and salicylic acid present anticancer properties against melanoma by promoting nitric oxide-dependent endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis

Sci Rep. 2020 Nov 12;10(1):19617. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-76824-6.

Abstract

Melanoma is the most aggressive and fatal type of skin cancer due to being highly proliferative. Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA; Aspirin) and salicylic acid (SA) are ancient drugs with multiple applications in medicine. Here, we showed that ASA and SA present anticancer effects against a murine model of implanted melanoma. These effects were also validated in 3D- and 2D-cultured melanoma B16F10 cells, where the drugs promoted pro-apoptotic effects. In both in vivo and in vitro models, SA and ASA triggered endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, which culminates with the upregulation of the pro-apoptotic transcription factor C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP). These effects are initiated by ASA/SA-triggered Akt/mTOR/AMPK-dependent activation of nitric oxide synthase 3 (eNOS), which increases nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species production inducing ER stress response. In the end, we propose that ASA and SA instigate anticancer effects by a novel mechanism, the activation of ER stress.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Aspirin / pharmacology*
  • Aspirin / therapeutic use
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress / drug effects*
  • Male
  • Melanoma / drug therapy
  • Melanoma / etiology*
  • Melanoma / pathology*
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism*
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Salicylic Acid / pharmacology*
  • Salicylic Acid / therapeutic use
  • Skin Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Skin Neoplasms / etiology*
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology*
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Salicylic Acid
  • Aspirin