Zn(II)-curc targets p53 in thyroid cancer cells

Int J Oncol. 2015 Oct;47(4):1241-8. doi: 10.3892/ijo.2015.3125. Epub 2015 Aug 13.

Abstract

TP53 mutation is a common event in many cancers, including thyroid carcinoma. Defective p53 activity promotes cancer resistance to therapies and a more malignant phenotype, acquiring oncogenic functions. Rescuing the function of mutant p53 (mutp53) protein is an attractive anticancer therapeutic strategy. Zn(II)-curc is a novel small molecule that has been shown to target mutp53 protein in several cancer cells, but its effect in thyroid cancer cells remains unclear. Here, we investigated whether Zn(II)-curc could affect p53 in thyroid cancer cells with both p53 mutation (R273H) and wild-type p53. Zn(II)-curc induced mutp53H273 downregulation and reactivation of wild-type functions, such as binding to canonical target promoters and target gene transactivation. This latter effect was similar to that induced by PRIMA-1. In addition, Zn(II)-curc triggered p53 target gene expression in wild-type p53-carrying cells. In combination treatments, Zn(II)-curc enhanced the antitumor activity of chemotherapeutic drugs, in both mutant and wild-type-carrying cancer cells. Taken together, our data indicate that Zn(II)-curc promotes the reactivation of p53 in thyroid cancer cells, providing in vitro evidence for a potential therapeutic approach in thyroid cancers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
  • Curcumin / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Mutant Proteins / drug effects*
  • Mutant Proteins / genetics
  • Mutation
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / genetics
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / pathology
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism*
  • Zinc Compounds / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Mutant Proteins
  • TP53 protein, human
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • Zinc Compounds
  • Curcumin