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University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Mechanisms Underlying The Heterogeneous Sensitivities of Cancer Cells to Proteasome Inhibitors

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>The mechanisms underlying cellular response to proteasome inhibitors have not been clearly elucidated in solid tumor models. Evidence suggests that the ability of a cell to manage the amount of proteotoxic stress following proteasome inhibition dictates survival. In this study using the FDA-approved proteasome inhibitor bortezomib (Velcade®) in solid tumor cells, we demonstrated that perhaps the most critical response to proteasome inhibition is repression of global protein synthesis by phosphorylation of the eukaryotic initiation factor 2-α subunit (eIF2α). In a panel of 10 distinct human pancreatic cancer cells, we showed marked heterogeneity in the ability of cancer cells to induce eIF2α phosphorylation upon stress (eIF2α-P); lack of inducible eIF2α-P led to excessive accumulation of aggregated proteins, reactive oxygen species, and ultimately cell death. In addition, we examined complementary cytoprotective mechanisms involving the activation of the heat shock response (HSR), and found that induction of heat shock protein 70 kDa (Hsp72) protected against proteasome inhibitor-induced cell death in human bladder cancer cells. Finally, investigation of a novel histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6)-selective inhibitor suggested that the cytoprotective role of the cytoplasmic histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) in response to proteasome inhibition may have been previously overestimated.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Level thesis:degree_level
Dissertation (PhD)
Year dc:date.available
2013

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • White, Matthew C
Contributors dc:contributor
  • David J. McConkey, Ph.D.
  • Kevin A. Morano, Ph.D.
  • Mary Ann Smith, Ph.D.

Subjects

dc:subject × 14

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu:utgsbs_dissertations-1371

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Base URL
digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

White, Matthew C. Mechanisms Underlying The Heterogeneous Sensitivities of Cancer Cells to Proteasome Inhibitors. Dissertation (PhD) thesis, 2013. https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/utgsbs_dissertations/336