Sorafenib and nitazoxanide disrupt mitochondrial function and inhibit regrowth capacity in three-dimensional models of hepatocellular and colorectal carcinoma

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  • Frida Ek
  • Kristin Blom
  • Tove Selvin
  • Jakob Rudfeldt
  • Claes Andersson
  • Senkowski, Wojciech
  • Christian Brechot
  • Peter Nygren
  • Rolf Larsson
  • Malin Jarvius
  • Mårten Fryknäs

Quiescent cancer cells in malignant tumors can withstand cell-cycle active treatment and cause cancer spread and recurrence. Three-dimensional (3D) cancer cell models have led to the identification of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) as a context-dependent vulnerability. The limited treatment options for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and colorectal carcinoma (CRC) metastatic to the liver include the multikinase inhibitors sorafenib and regorafenib. Off-target effects of sorafenib and regorafenib are related to OXPHOS inhibition; however the importance of this feature to the effect on tumor cells has not been investigated in 3D models. We began by assessing global transcriptional responses in monolayer cell cultures, then moved on to multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTS) and tumoroids generated from a CRC patient. Cells were treated with chemotherapeutics, kinase inhibitors, and the OXPHOS inhibitors. Cells grown in 3D cultures were sensitive to the OXPHOS inhibitor nitazoxanide, sorafenib, and regorafenib and resistant to other multikinase inhibitors and chemotherapeutic drugs. Furthermore, nitazoxanide and sorafenib reduced viability, regrowth potential and inhibited mitochondrial membrane potential in an additive manner at clinically relevant concentrations. This study demonstrates that the OXPHOS inhibition caused by sorafenib and regorafenib parallels 3D activity and can be further investigated for new combination strategies.

Original languageEnglish
Article number8943
JournalScientific Reports
Volume12
Issue number1
Number of pages11
ISSN2045-2322
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022

Bibliographical note

© 2022. The Author(s).

    Research areas

  • Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology, Colorectal Neoplasms/drug therapy, Humans, Liver Neoplasms/pathology, Mitochondria/metabolism, Nitro Compounds, Sorafenib/pharmacology, Thiazoles

ID: 310566965