Downregulation of DCC sensitizes multiple myeloma cells to bortezomib treatment

Mol Med Rep. 2019 Jun;19(6):5023-5029. doi: 10.3892/mmr.2019.10142. Epub 2019 Apr 9.

Abstract

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable disease; a better understanding of the molecular aspects of this hematological malignancy could contribute to the development of new treatment strategies and help to improve the survival rates of patients with MM. Previously, the methylation status of the deleted in colorectal cancer (DCC) gene was correlated with the survival rate of patients with MM, thus the main goal of this study was to understand DCC contribution to MM tumorigenesis, and to assess the impact of DCC inhibition in the MM response to treatment with bortezomib. Our results demonstrated that hypermethylation of the DCC promoter inhibits gene expression, and DCC silencing is significantly correlated with a reduction in cell viability and an increase in cell death induced by bortezomib. In conclusion, our results suggested that hypermethylation is an important mechanism of DCC expression regulation in MM and that the absence of DCC contributes to the enhanced sensitivity to treatment with bortezomib.

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Bortezomib / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • DCC Receptor / antagonists & inhibitors
  • DCC Receptor / genetics
  • DCC Receptor / metabolism*
  • DNA Methylation / drug effects
  • Down-Regulation / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Multiple Myeloma / metabolism
  • Multiple Myeloma / pathology
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism

Substances

  • DCC Receptor
  • DCC protein, human
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Bortezomib