Distinct effects of etoposide on glutamine-addicted neuroblastoma.

ABSTRACT: The majority of anticancer drugs are DNA-damaging agents, and whether or not they may directly target mitochondria remains unclear. In addition, tumors such as neuroblastoma exhibit addiction to glutamine in spite of it being a nonessential amino acid. Our aim was to evaluate the direct effect of widely used anticancer drugs on mitochondrial activity in combination with glutamine withdrawal, and possible apoptotic effects of such interaction. Our results revealed that etoposide inhibits mitochondrial respiratory chain Complex I causing the leakage of electrons and the superoxide radical formation. However, it was not sufficient to induce apoptosis, and apoptotic manifestation was detectable only alongside the withdrawal of glutamine, a precursor for antioxidant glutathione. Thus, the simul

SUBMITTER: Valter K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7109159 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature