| Summary |
PURPOSE: To assess the role of Apollon in melanoma resistance to intrinsic and extrinsic pathways of apoptosis and to identify strategies to reduce its expression. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Expression of Apollon was assessed in melanoma cell lines and in surgical specimens.Gene expression profiling, mitochondrial depolarization, caspases activation and apoptosis assays were used to test the effect of Apollon silencing, by siRNA, on melanoma response to different anti-tumor agents. Levels of expression of Apollon and melanoma apoptosis were assessed after tumor treatment with the combination of MEK- and mTOR- inhibitors, or of anti-HLA class II mAbs and anti-tumor agents. RESULTS: Melanoma cells constitutively expressed Apollon, in-vitro and in-vivo. Extent of melanoma apoptosis correlated significantly with Apollon downmodulation upon treatment with a MEK inhibitor, a BRAFV600E-specific inhibitor or the nitrosourea fotemustine. Apollon silencing enhanced melanoma apoptosis in response to the cytotoxic drugs camptothecin, celecoxib, fotemustine and temozolomide, to MEK- and BRAFV600E-specific inhibitors, and to soluble or membrane-bound TRAIL. Mechanistically, Apollon silencing in melanoma cells promoted mitochondrial depolarization, caspase-2, -8, -9 and -3 activation and alteration in the expression of genes related to different cellular functions in response to different anti-tumor agents. Treatment of melanoma cells with combination of MEK and of mTOR inhibitors, or of HLA class II antigen-specific mAb and anti-tumor agents, promoted Apollon downmodulation, associated with enhanced apoptotic responses. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that Apollon is a relevant molecule in melanoma resistance to apoptosis, and that strategies aimed at downmodulating Apollon protein may improve melanoma cell death in response to anti-tumor agents that trigger the intrinsic or the extrinsic apoptosis pathways. |
