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Apoptin induces apoptosis in an oral cancer mouse model

Remilio A L Schoop1, Robert J Baatenburg de Jong, Mathieu H M Noteborn

  • 1Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. r.a.l.schoop@lumc.nl

Cancer Biology & Therapy
|August 19, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Apoptin, a protein from chicken anemia virus, effectively triggers cancer cell death (apoptosis) in primary oral tumors. This protein shows promise as a novel therapeutic agent for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Virology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Apoptin, derived from chicken anemia virus, induces apoptosis in tumor cells.
  • Its efficacy is not affected by p53 mutations or Bcl-2/Bcl-x(L) overexpression.
  • Primary oral tumors are induced by 4-Nitroquinoline-1-oxide in immunocompetent mice.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of apoptin expression in primary oral tumors.
  • To evaluate apoptin's therapeutic potential for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Main Methods:

  • Apoptin expression was induced in primary oral tumors in vivo.
  • Apoptin was ectopically expressed in passage 1 cell cultures derived from these tumors.
  • Apoptosis induction was assessed, and caspase-3 activation was analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Apoptin expression led to significant apoptosis in primary oral tumor cells in vivo.
  • Ectopic apoptin expression induced apoptosis in vitro in oral tumor-derived cell cultures.
  • Both in vivo and in vitro, apoptosis occurred via caspase-3 activation.

Conclusions:

  • Apoptin induces apoptosis in primary squamous cell carcinoma cells.
  • Apoptin demonstrates potential as a therapeutic agent for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

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