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Aspirin Sensitizes Cancer Cells to TRAIL–Induced Apoptosis by Reducing Survivin Levels

Authors' Affiliations: ¹ Cell Death Regulation Laboratory, Departments of Medicine and Cell and Molecular Biology, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois and ² Division of Medical Science, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Requests for reprints: Vincent Cryns, Department of Medicine, Lurie 4-113, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 East Superior Street, Chicago, IL 60611. Phone: 312-503-0644; Fax: 312-908-9032; E-mail: v-cryns{at}northwestern.edu.

Purpose: Although tumor necrosis factor–related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and agonistic antibodies targeting its receptors are promising cancer therapies because of their tumor selectivity, many tumors are resistant to TRAIL-based therapies. We examined whether the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug aspirin sensitized cancer cells to TRAIL agonists in vitro and in vivo and investigated the underlying mechanism.

Experimental Design: The effects of aspirin on sensitivity to TRAIL agonists and expression of apoptosis regulators was determined in human breast cancer cell lines and xenograft tumors. The specific role of survivin depletion in the TRAIL-sensitizing effects of aspirin was determined by silencing survivin.

Results: Aspirin sensitized human breast cancer cells, but not untransformed human mammary epithelial cells, to TRAIL-induced caspase activation and apoptosis by a cyclooxygenase-2–independent mechanism. Aspirin also sensitized breast cancer cells to apoptosis induced by a human agonistic TRAIL receptor-2 monoclonal antibody (lexatumumab). Aspirin treatment led to G₁ cell cycle arrest and a robust reduction in the levels of the antiapoptotic protein survivin by inducing its proteasomal degradation, but did not affect the levels of many other apoptosis regulators. Silencing survivin with small interfering RNAs sensitized breast cancer cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis, underscoring the functional role of survivin depletion in the TRAIL-sensitizing actions of aspirin. Moreover, aspirin acted synergistically with TRAIL to promote apoptosis and reduce tumor burden in an orthotopic breast cancer xenograft model.

Conclusions: Aspirin sensitizes transformed breast epithelial cells to TRAIL-based therapies in vitro and in vivo by a novel mechanism involving survivin depletion. These findings provide the first in vivo evidence for the therapeutic utility of this combination.

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