Background:
Persistent infection with the high-risk of human papillomavirus (HR-HPVs) is the
primary etiological factor of cervical cancer; HR-HPVs express oncoproteins E6 and E7, both of which play key
roles in the progression of cervical carcinogenesis. Zinc Finger Nucleases (ZFNs) targeting HPV E7 induce
specific shear of the E7 gene, weakening the malignant biological effects, hence showing great potential for
clinical transformation.
Objective:
Our aim was to develop a new comprehensive therapy for better clinical application of ZFNs. We
here explored the anti-cancer efficiency of HPV targeted ZFNs combined with a platinum-based antineoplastic
drug Cisplatin (DDP) and an HDAC inhibitor Trichostatin A (TSA).
Methods:
SiHa and HeLa cells were exposed to different concentrations of DDP and TSA; the appropriate concentrations
for the following experiments were screened according to cell apoptosis. Then cells were grouped
for combined or separate treatments; apoptosis, cell viability and proliferation ability were measured by flow
cytometry detection, CCK-8 assays and colony formation assays. The xenograft experiments were also performed
to determine the anti-cancer effects of the combined therapy. In addition, the HPV E7 and RB1 expressions
were measured by western blot analysis.
Results:
Results showed that the combined therapy induced about two times more apoptosis than that of ZFNs
alone in SiHa and HeLa cells, and much more inhibition of cell viability than either of the separate treatment.
The colony formation ability was inhibited more than 80% by the co-treatment, the protein expression of
HPV16/18E7 was down regulated and that of RB1 was elevated. In addition, the xenografts experiment showed
a synergistic effect between DDP and TSA together with ZFNs.
Conclusion:
Our results demonstrated that ZFNs combined with DDP or TSA functioned effectively in cervical
cancer cells, and it provided novel ideas for the prevention and treatment of HPV-related cervical malignancies.
Retraction of “UBE2C, Directly Targeted by miR-548e-5p, Increases the Cellular Growth and Invasive Abilities of Cancer Cells Interacting with the EMT Marker Protein Zinc Finger E-box Binding Homeobox 1/2 in NSCLC”