N,N‑diethylaminobenzaldehyde targets aldehyde dehydrogenase to eradicate human pancreatic cancer cells

  • Authors:
    • Wenwen Wang
    • Shiya Zheng
    • Haiju He
    • Hao Ge
    • Borhan R. Saeed
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  • Published online on: April 27, 2020     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2020.8691
  • Pages: 662-670
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Abstract

Pancreatic cancer is a common cause of worldwide cancer-related mortality with a poor 5-year survival rate. Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity is a possible marker for malignant stem cells in solid organ systems, including the pancreas, and N,N‑diethylaminobenzaldehyde (DEAB) is able to inhibit ALDH activity. In the present study, the role of DEAB in the treatment of pancreatic cancer cells and the potential underlying mechanisms were investigated. The ALDH activities of pancreatic cancer cell lines treated with or without DEAB were analyzed by an ALDEFLUOR™ assay. The Cell Counting Kit‑8 and colony formation assays, and cell cycle analysis were used to evaluate the viability, colony‑forming ability and cell quiescence of cell lines under DEAB treatment, respectively. DEAB and/or gemcitabine‑induced cell apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry. DEAB reduced ALDH activity and inhibited the proliferation, colony‑forming ability and cell quiescence of pancreatic cancer cell lines. Compared with respective controls, DEAB alone and the combination of gemcitabine and DEAB significantly decreased cell viability and increased cell apoptosis. Moreover, reverse transcription‑PCR and western blotting were used to measure the expressions of B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2) associated X protein (Bax) and Bcl2 mRNA and protein. The anti‑cancer effect of DEAB was associated with upregulation of Bax expression. Therefore, targeting ALDH with DEAB may be a potential therapeutic choice for pancreatic cancer, demonstrating a synergic effect with gemcitabine.
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July-2020
Volume 20 Issue 1

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

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Spandidos Publications style
Wang W, Zheng S, He H, Ge H and Saeed BR: N,N‑diethylaminobenzaldehyde targets aldehyde dehydrogenase to eradicate human pancreatic cancer cells. Exp Ther Med 20: 662-670, 2020.
APA
Wang, W., Zheng, S., He, H., Ge, H., & Saeed, B.R. (2020). N,N‑diethylaminobenzaldehyde targets aldehyde dehydrogenase to eradicate human pancreatic cancer cells. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 20, 662-670. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2020.8691
MLA
Wang, W., Zheng, S., He, H., Ge, H., Saeed, B. R."N,N‑diethylaminobenzaldehyde targets aldehyde dehydrogenase to eradicate human pancreatic cancer cells". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 20.1 (2020): 662-670.
Chicago
Wang, W., Zheng, S., He, H., Ge, H., Saeed, B. R."N,N‑diethylaminobenzaldehyde targets aldehyde dehydrogenase to eradicate human pancreatic cancer cells". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 20, no. 1 (2020): 662-670. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2020.8691