Volume 63, Issue 2 pp. 301-313
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Mechanism of synergistic inhibitory effect of benzyl isothiocyanate and zoledronic acid combination on breast cancer induction of osteoclast differentiation

Eun-Ryeong Hahm

Eun-Ryeong Hahm

Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

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Su-Hyeong Kim

Su-Hyeong Kim

Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

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Subrata K. Pore

Subrata K. Pore

Amity Institute of Molecular Medicine & Stem Cell Research, Amity University, Noida, India

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Sivapar V. Mathan

Sivapar V. Mathan

Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

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Rana P. Singh

Rana P. Singh

Cancer Biology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, New Delhi, India

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Shivendra V. Singh

Corresponding Author

Shivendra V. Singh

Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Correspondence Shivendra V. Singh, Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 2.32A Hillman Cancer Center Research Pavilion, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, 5117 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.

Email: [email protected]

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First published: 03 November 2023
Citations: 1

Abstract

Bone is the most favored site for metastasis for each major subtype of breast cancer. Therapeutic modalities for alleviation of clinical symptoms associated with bone metastasis include surgical resection, radiation, and bone-targeted therapies, including bisphosphonates (e.g., zoledronic acid; ZA) and a humanized antibody against receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (denosumab). However, the bone-targeted therapies are expensive, and have poor pharmacokinetic attributes and/or serious adverse effects. Therefore, novel strategies are needed for treatment of bone metastasis or to increase effectiveness of existing bone-targeted therapies. We have shown previously that benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) is a novel inhibitor of osteoclast differentiation in vitro and bone metastasis in vivo. The present study shows that BITC + ZA combination synergistically inhibits osteoclast differentiation induced by addition of conditioned media from breast cancer cells. These effects were associated with a significant increase in levels of several antiosteoclastogenic cytokines, including interferons, interleukin (IL)-3, IL-4, and IL-27. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis of RNA-seq data from BITC and/or ZA-treated cells revealed downregulation of genes of many pathways (e.g., actin cytoskeleton, Hippo signaling, etc.) by treatment with BITC + ZA combination, but not by BITC alone or ZA alone. Confocal microscopy confirmed severe disruption of actin cytoskeleton upon treatment of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells with the BITC + ZA combination. This combination also decreased the nuclear level of yes-associated protein, a core component of Hippo signaling. In conclusion, the present study offers a novel combination for prevention or treatment of bone metastasis of breast cancer.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

The data underlying this article will be shared on reasonable request to the corresponding author.

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