Metabolic reprogramming is associated with flavopiridol resistance in prostate cancer DU145 cells

Sci Rep. 2017 Jul 11;7(1):5081. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-05086-6.

Abstract

Flavopiridol (FP) is a pan-cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor, which shows strong efficacy in inducing cancer cell apoptosis. Although FP is potent against most cancer cells in vitro, unfortunately it proved less efficacious in clinical trials in various aggressive cancers. To date, the molecular mechanisms of the FP resistance are mostly unknown. Here, we report that a small fraction human prostate cancer DU145 cells can survive long-term FP treatment and emerge as FP-resistant cells (DU145FP). These DU145FP cells show accumulated mitochondrial lesions with stronger glycolytic features, and they proliferate in slow-cycling and behave highly migratory with strong anti-apoptotic potential. In addition, the cells are less sensitive to cisplatin and docetaxel-induced apoptotic pressure, and over-express multiple stem cell associated biomarkers. Our studies collectively uncover for the first time that FP-resistant prostate cancer cells show metabolic remodeling, and the metabolic plasticity might be required for the FP resistance-associated cancer cell stemness up-regulation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Cell Division / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cisplatin / pharmacology
  • Docetaxel / pharmacology
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm* / drug effects
  • Flavonoids / pharmacology
  • Flavonoids / therapeutic use*
  • G2 Phase / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / drug effects
  • Mitochondria / drug effects
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Piperidines / pharmacology
  • Piperidines / therapeutic use*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Pseudopodia / drug effects
  • Pseudopodia / metabolism
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects
  • Up-Regulation / genetics

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Flavonoids
  • Piperidines
  • Docetaxel
  • alvocidib
  • Cisplatin