Oxidative stress sensitizes bladder cancer cells to TRAIL mediated apoptosis by down-regulating anti-apoptotic proteins.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

TRAIL, an endogenous protein involved in immunosurveillance and a novel drug in clinical trials, is of particular interest as cancer therapy because it can induce apoptosis in cancer cells but not in normal cells. Since some cancers develop resistance to TRAIL, safe and effective methods of TRAIL sensitization are of clinical interest. We explored how chemotherapy and oxidative stress affect TRAIL sensitivity and expression of proteins in the apoptotic pathway.

Materials and methods

Sensitivity to TRAIL was assessed in viability assays. Apoptosis was measured by caspase-3/7 activity and/or nuclear condensation using Hoechst staining. Western blotting was used to determine cleavage, phosphorylation or alterations in protein expression.

Results

TRAIL decreased t

SUBMITTER: White-Gilbertson SJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2749573 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature