Calcium cytotoxicity sensitizes prostate cancer cells to standard-of-care treatments for locally advanced tumors

Cell Death Dis. 2020 Dec 7;11(12):1039. doi: 10.1038/s41419-020-03256-5.

Abstract

Therapy resistance is a major roadblock in oncology. Exacerbation of molecular dysfunctions typical of cancer cells have proven effective in twisting oncogenic mechanisms to lethal conditions, thus offering new therapeutic avenues for cancer treatment. Here, we demonstrate that selective agonists of Transient Receptor Potential cation channel subfamily M member 8 (TRPM8), a cation channel characteristic of the prostate epithelium frequently overexpressed in advanced stage III/IV prostate cancers (PCa), sensitize therapy refractory models of PCa to radio, chemo or hormonal treatment. Overall, our study demonstrates that pharmacological-induced Ca2+ cytotoxicity is an actionable strategy to sensitize cancer cells to standard therapies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anilides / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Calcium / toxicity*
  • Cell Death / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Humans
  • Ion Channel Gating / drug effects
  • Male
  • Menthol / analogs & derivatives
  • Menthol / pharmacology
  • Models, Biological
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology*
  • TRPM Cation Channels / metabolism
  • X-Rays

Substances

  • Anilides
  • N-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-menthone-3-carboxamide
  • TRPM Cation Channels
  • TRPM8 protein, human
  • Menthol
  • Calcium