Abstract 1924: The aurora kinase inhibitor CYC3 synergizes with low concentrations of paclitaxel in pancreatic cancer cells in vitro

• Published in: Cancer research (Chicago, Ill.) Ill.), 2012-04, Vol.72 (8_Supplement), p.1924-1924
• Main Authors: Lin, Yao, Krippendorff, Ben-Fillippo, Bramhall, Jo, Bapiro, Tashinga, Richards, Frances, Jodrell, Duncan, Zheleva, Daniella
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0008-5472; 1538-7445
• DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.AM2012-1924

CYC3, an Aurora Kinase A specific inhibitor, suppresses the pancreatic cancer cell growth (72h GI50 2.4μM in MiaPaCa-2 cells and 1.95μM in Panc-1 cells), arrest the cells at M phase and induces apoptosis. In order to evaluate CYC3's clinical potential, we employed mathematical models and simulations to look for possible synergistic combinations of CYC3 with paclitaxel in MiaPaCa-2 and Panc-1 cells. We have identified low concentrations of paclitaxel (3nM) and CYC3 is synergistic in inhibiting pancreatic cell growth, achieving similar effects as high concentrations of paclitaxel (30nM). Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis shows that CYC3 does not alter the cellular uptake of paclitaxel, supporting a synergistic mechanism at molecular level. In addition, the combination of CYC3 with low concentration of paclitaxel (3nM) displays less myelotoxicity compared to high concentrations of paclitaxel (30nM) in colony formation assay using Colony Forming Unit of Granulocyte and Macrophage (CFU-GM) (60-70% vs 100% inhibition), suggesting a potentially safer but equally efficient application of paclitaxel in patients. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1924. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-1924