Open Access

AZD6738 promotes the tumor suppressive effects of trifluridine in colorectal cancer cells

  • Authors:
    • Shinnosuke Harata
    • Takuya Suzuki
    • Hiroki Takahashi
    • Takahisa Hirokawa
    • Akira Kato
    • Kaori Watanabe
    • Takeshi Yanagita
    • Hajime Ushigome
    • Kazuyoshi Shiga
    • Ryo Ogawa
    • Akira Mitsui
    • Masahiro Kimura
    • Yoichi Matsuo
    • Shuji Takiguchi
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: February 1, 2023     https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2023.8489
  • Article Number: 52
  • Copyright: © Harata et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3‑related (ATR) is a kinase that repairs DNA damage. Although inhibitors that selectively target ATR have been developed, their effectiveness in colorectal cancer has not been widely reported. The present study hypothesized that anticancer agents that effectively act in the S phase before the G2/M checkpoint may be ideal agents for concomitant use with ATR inhibitors, which act at the G2/M checkpoint. Therefore, the present study examined the combined effects of AZD6738, an ATR inhibitor, and trifluridine (FTD), which acts in the S phase and has a high DNA uptake rate. In vitro cell viability assays, flow cytometry and western blotting were performed to evaluate cell viability, and changes in cell cycle localization and protein expression. The results revealed that in colorectal cancer cells, the combination of AZD6738 and FTD inhibited cell viability, cell cycle arrest at the G2/M checkpoint and Chk1 phosphorylation, and increased apoptotic protein expression levels more than that when treated with FTD alone. HT29, a BRAF‑mutant cell line known to be resistant to anticancer drugs, was used to induce tumors in vivo. Since FTD does not have sufficient efficacy when administered orally, it was mixed with tipiracil to prevent degradation; this mixture is known as TAS‑102. TAS‑102 alone exerted minimal tumor suppressive effects; however, when used in combination with AZD6738, tumor suppression was observed, suggesting that AZD6738 may increase the effectiveness of a weakly effective drug. Although ATR inhibitors are effective against p53 mutants, the present study demonstrated that these inhibitors were also effective against the p53 wild‑type HCT116 colorectal cancer cell line. In conclusion, combination therapy with AZD6738 and FTD enhanced the inhibition of tumor proliferation in vitro and in vivo. In the future, we aim to investigate the potentiating effect of AZD6738 on 5‑fluouracil‑resistant cell lines that are difficult to treat.
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March-2023
Volume 49 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1021-335X
Online ISSN:1791-2431

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Copy and paste a formatted citation
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Spandidos Publications style
Harata S, Suzuki T, Takahashi H, Hirokawa T, Kato A, Watanabe K, Yanagita T, Ushigome H, Shiga K, Ogawa R, Ogawa R, et al: AZD6738 promotes the tumor suppressive effects of trifluridine in colorectal cancer cells. Oncol Rep 49: 52, 2023.
APA
Harata, S., Suzuki, T., Takahashi, H., Hirokawa, T., Kato, A., Watanabe, K. ... Takiguchi, S. (2023). AZD6738 promotes the tumor suppressive effects of trifluridine in colorectal cancer cells. Oncology Reports, 49, 52. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2023.8489
MLA
Harata, S., Suzuki, T., Takahashi, H., Hirokawa, T., Kato, A., Watanabe, K., Yanagita, T., Ushigome, H., Shiga, K., Ogawa, R., Mitsui, A., Kimura, M., Matsuo, Y., Takiguchi, S."AZD6738 promotes the tumor suppressive effects of trifluridine in colorectal cancer cells". Oncology Reports 49.3 (2023): 52.
Chicago
Harata, S., Suzuki, T., Takahashi, H., Hirokawa, T., Kato, A., Watanabe, K., Yanagita, T., Ushigome, H., Shiga, K., Ogawa, R., Mitsui, A., Kimura, M., Matsuo, Y., Takiguchi, S."AZD6738 promotes the tumor suppressive effects of trifluridine in colorectal cancer cells". Oncology Reports 49, no. 3 (2023): 52. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2023.8489