Pharmacological targeting of caspase-8/c-FLIP_L heterodimer enhances complex II assembly and elimination of pancreatic cancer cells.

ABSTRACT: Extrinsic apoptotic network is driven by Death Ligand (DL)-mediated activation of procaspase-8. Recently, we have developed the first-in class small molecule, FLIPinB, which specifically targets the key regulator of extrinsic apoptosis, the protein c-FLIP_L, in the caspase-8/c-FLIP_L heterodimer. We have shown that FLIPinB enhances DL-induced caspase-8 activity and apoptosis. However, the effects of FLIPinB action in combination with other cell death inducers have only just begun to be elucidated. Here, we show that FLIPinB enhances the cell death in pancreatic cancer cells induced by combinatorial treatment with DL, gemcitabine and Mcl-1 inhibitor S63845. Further, we found that these effects are mediated via an increase in the complex II assembly. Collectively, our stu

SUBMITTER: Konig C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11698904 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature