Photosensitizer verteporfin inhibits the growth of YAP‑ and TAZ‑dominant gastric cancer cells by suppressing the anti‑apoptotic protein Survivin in a light‑independent manner

Hasegawa,Takashi; Sugihara,Takaaki; Hoshino,Yoshiki; Tarumoto,Ryohei; Matsuki,Yukako; Kanda,Tsutomu; Takata,Tomoaki; Nagahara,Takakazu; Matono,Tomomitsu; Isomoto,Hajime

doi:10.3892/ol.2021.12964

Photosensitizer verteporfin inhibits the growth of YAP‑ and TAZ‑dominant gastric cancer cells by suppressing the anti‑apoptotic protein Survivin in a light‑independent manner

Authors:
- Takashi Hasegawa
- Takaaki Sugihara
- Yoshiki Hoshino
- Ryohei Tarumoto
- Yukako Matsuki
- Tsutomu Kanda
- Tomoaki Takata
- Takakazu Nagahara
- Tomomitsu Matono
- Hajime Isomoto
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Affiliations: Division of Medicine and Clinical Science, Department of Gastroenterology and Nephrology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683‑8504, Japan
Published online on: August 3, 2021 https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2021.12964
Article Number: 703
Copyright: © Hasegawa et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Yes‑associated protein (YAP) positivity indicates a poor prognosis in gastric cancer. Transcriptional co‑activator with a PDZ‑binding domain (TAZ), a YAP paralog, is highly expressed in gastric signet ring cell carcinoma. Verteporfin (VP), a clinical photosensitizer, was recently shown to inhibit YAP/TAZ. In the present study, the therapeutic potential of VP treatment was explored using two gastric cancer cell lines: MKN‑45 (TAZ‑dominant) and MKN‑74 (YAP‑dominant). Cell proliferation was evaluated by MTS assay. Vascular mimicry was evaluated by the tube formation assay. Gene and protein expression levels of YAP/TAZ downstream effectors [such as Survivin, Cysteine‑rich angiogenic inducer 61 (CYR61), and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF)] were measured. YAP or TAZ localization was evaluated by immunofluorescence. Cell death was assessed by immunofluorescent staining of Annexin V. YAP and TAZ expression were knocked down by small interfering RNA. The current results demonstrate that MKN‑45, a poorly differentiated TAZ‑dominant gastric cancer cell line, was more sensitive to VP than MKN‑74, a moderately differentiated YAP‑dominant gastric cancer cell line. VP changed the localization of YAP/TAZ, promoted its degradation and significantly decreased the protein level of Survivin in both cell lines. Cell death was induced by VP treatment in a dose‑dependent manner. Vascular mimicry was inhibited in both cell lines. Proliferation in both cell lines decreased in response to YAP/TAZ knockdown. The present study indicated that VP has potential as a therapeutic agent in YAP‑ and TAZ‑dominant gastric cancers due to its ability to suppress the anti‑apoptotic protein Survivin via inhibition of YAP and TAZ.

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