Autophagy Inhibition Stimulates Apoptosis in Oesophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Treated with Fasudil
Fasudil has been proven to be a promising chemotherapeutic drug for various malignancies. However, the potential anticancer effects of fasudil in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remain to be established. We confirmed the RhoA activity is inhibited by fasudil in ESCC cells. Then measured the effects of fasudil on apoptosis and autophagy in ESCC. Our study showed fasudil could both induce ESCCs apoptosis and autophagy, and when fasudil-induced autophagy was inhibited by knockdown of the essential autophagy genes (Beclin 1 or ATG7), and pharmacologic agent (chloroquine) treatment, both treatments also significantly sensitized ESCC to fasudil-induced apoptosis, reducing cell viability in vitro. Our study showed autophagy inhibitors combined with fasudil could significantly induce ESCC apoptosis, which may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for ESCC.
Source: Journal of Cancer - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Fa-Jun Xie, Qiu-Qing Zheng, Jing Qin, Ling-Ling Zhang, Na Han, Wei-Min Mao Tags: Research Paper Source Type: research
More News: Cancer | Cancer & Oncology | Carcinoma | Esophagus Cancer | Genetics | Skin Cancer | Squamous Cell Carcinoma | Study