One hallmark of cancer is the ability to evade programmed cell death, or apoptosis;this allows uncontrolled proliferation and tumor growth. Our goal is to use a small molecule to activate to trigger apoptosis in cancer cells by targeting key proteins in the apoptotic pathway: executioner procaspases. We hope to develop a strategy for personalized cancer treatment in which cancers with elevated levels of procaspases will be treated with specialized small molecules. It is known that there are elevated levels of procaspase-7 in certain cancers, such as prostate cancer. We hypothesize that apoptosis can be selectively induced in cancer cells containing elevated levels of procaspase-7 via a direct small molecule activator of procaspase- 7 to caspase-7. This hypothesis is supported by recent research in our group in which we were able to induce apoptosis in cancer cells by small molecule activation of procaspase-3 to caspase-3.
Specific Aim 1. Identification of small molecules which activate procaspase-7 to caspase-7. In this specific aim we intend to A) perform timecourse analyses to elucidate how procaspase-7 activates over time, B)identify a small molecule activator of procaspase-7 from a library screen, and C) validate procaspase-7-activating compounds found in the library screen.
Specific Aim 2. Induction of apoptotic death using the identified small molecule activator of procaspase-7. During apoptosis, cells display a variety of characteristic traits. We will use various techniques to monitor the apoptotic hallmarks in HL60 and MCF-7 cells induced by the identified small molecule in Specific Aim 1. Techniques include Flow cytometry to detect phosphatidyl serine exposure on apoptotic cell membranes, Hoescht staining to detect chromatin condensation in apoptotic cells, Rescue from apoptotic death with a pan-caspase inhibitor Specific Aim 3. Identification of specific cancers in which executioner procaspase levels are elevated. A variety of paraffin-embedded primary cancer tissues are available to the Hergenrother laboratory. Using Western blotting and immunohistochemistry, we can determine executioner procaspase-3, -6, and -7 levels in prostate and breast cancer tissues.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)
Project #
3F31CA130138-01S2
Application #
7938266
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-GGG-T (29))
Program Officer
Bini, Alessandra M
Project Start
2008-01-16
Project End
2011-01-15
Budget Start
2008-01-16
Budget End
2011-01-15
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$41,176
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Department
Chemistry
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
041544081
City
Champaign
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
61820
West, Diana C; Qin, Yan; Peterson, Quinn P et al. (2012) Differential effects of procaspase-3 activating compounds in the induction of cancer cell death. Mol Pharm 9:1425-34
Lucas, Pamela W; Schmit, Joanna M; Peterson, Quinn P et al. (2011) Pharmacokinetics and derivation of an anticancer dosing regimen for PAC-1, a preferential small molecule activator of procaspase-3, in healthy dogs. Invest New Drugs 29:901-11
Peterson, Quinn P; Hsu, Danny C; Novotny, Chris J et al. (2010) Discovery and canine preclinical assessment of a nontoxic procaspase-3-activating compound. Cancer Res 70:7232-41
Peterson, Quinn P; Goode, David R; West, Diana C et al. (2010) Preparation of the caspase-3/7 substrate Ac-DEVD-pNA by solution-phase peptide synthesis. Nat Protoc 5:294-302
Nandan, Mandayam O; Ghaleb, Amr M; McConnell, Beth B et al. (2010) Krüppel-like factor 5 is a crucial mediator of intestinal tumorigenesis in mice harboring combined ApcMin and KRASV12 mutations. Mol Cancer 9:63
Peterson, Quinn P; Goode, David R; West, Diana C et al. (2009) PAC-1 activates procaspase-3 in vitro through relief of zinc-mediated inhibition. J Mol Biol 388:144-58