Deregulation of the spindle assembly checkpoint is associated with paclitaxel resistance in ovarian cancer

J Ovarian Res. 2018 Apr 4;11(1):27. doi: 10.1186/s13048-018-0399-7.

Abstract

Background: Ovarian cancer is the leading gynecologic cancer diagnosed in North America and because related symptoms are not disease specific, this often leads to late detection, an advanced disease state, and the need for chemotherapy. Ovarian cancer is frequently sensitive to chemotherapy at diagnosis but rapid development of drug resistance leads to disease progression and ultimately death in the majority of patients.

Results: We have generated paclitaxel resistant ovarian cell lines from their corresponding native cell lines to determine driver mechanisms of drug resistance using gene expression arrays. These paclitaxel resistant ovarian cells demonstrate: (1) Increased IC50 for paclitaxel and docetaxel (10 to 75-fold) and cross-resistance to anthracyclines (2) Reduced cell apoptosis in the presence of paclitaxel (3) Gene depletion involving mitotic regulators BUB1 mitotic checkpoint serine/threonine kinase, cyclin BI (CCNB1), centromere protein E (CENPE), and centromere protein F (CENPF), and (4) Functional data validating gene depletion among mitotic regulators.

Conclusions: We have generated model systems to explore drug resistance in ovarian cancer, which have revealed a key pathway related to the spindle assembly checkpoint underlying paclitaxel resistance in ovarian cell lines.

Keywords: Centromere protein F (CENPF); Cyclin B1 (CCNB1); Mitotic checkpoint serine/threonine kinase (BUB1); Ovarian cancer; Paclitaxel; Spindle assembly checkpoint; centromere protein E (CENPE).

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Biomarkers
  • Cell Cycle Checkpoints / drug effects*
  • Cell Cycle Checkpoints / genetics
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm* / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Regulatory Networks
  • Humans
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • M Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints / drug effects
  • M Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints / genetics
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / genetics
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / mortality
  • Paclitaxel / pharmacology*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Spindle Apparatus / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Biomarkers
  • Paclitaxel