Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a highly malignant disease that is generally not responding to chemotherapy. It is particularly predominant in China. Although ESCC is significantly associated with cigarette smoking, the relationship between its molecular pathogenesis and responsiveness to chemotherapy and cigarette smoke remains elusive. This study reported the constitutive activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), leading to ABCG2 upregulation and the multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype, in ESCC cell lines with acquired cisplatin resistance. Reporter gene assay, chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis and specific gene knockdown confirmed that the enhanced AhR binding to a xenobiotic response element (XRE) within the ABCG2 promoter is responsible for ABCG2 overexpression. A HSP90 inhibitor (17-AAG) and two AhR antagonists (kaempferol and salicylamide) were shown to inhibit ABCG2 upregulation, thereby reversing the ABCG2-mediated MDR. Our data therefore advocate the use of these inhibitors as novel chemosensitizers for the treatment of esophageal cancer.
Copyright © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2
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ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / genetics*
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Antineoplastic Agents / metabolism
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Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
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Benzoquinones / pharmacology
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Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / genetics*
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Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / metabolism
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Cell Line, Tumor
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Cisplatin / metabolism
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Cisplatin / pharmacology*
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Drug Resistance, Multiple / genetics
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Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / genetics
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Esophageal Neoplasms / genetics*
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Esophageal Neoplasms / metabolism
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Gene Expression
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Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
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Gene Silencing
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HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
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Humans
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Lactams, Macrocyclic / pharmacology
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Models, Biological
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Neoplasm Proteins / genetics*
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Promoter Regions, Genetic
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Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
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Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / agonists*
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Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / antagonists & inhibitors
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Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / genetics
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Response Elements
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Signal Transduction
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Transcriptional Activation / genetics
Substances
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ABCG2 protein, human
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ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2
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ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters
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Antineoplastic Agents
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Benzoquinones
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HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins
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Lactams, Macrocyclic
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Neoplasm Proteins
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Protein Kinase Inhibitors
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Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon
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tanespimycin
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Cisplatin