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cIAP-2 block apoptotic events in bladder cancer cells.

BACKGROUND
The Inhibitors of Apoptosis (IAPs) are negative regulators of apoptosis and their overexpression renders cells resistant to a variety of apoptotic stimuli. We investigated the mRNA expression levels of IAPs in a panel of bladder tumour cells, selected as being sensitive or resistant to death receptor-mediated apoptosis.


MATERIALS AND METHODS
The mRNA expression of IAPs was quantified in a RNase protection assay (RPA). Apoptosis was induced by recombinant killerTRAIL, agonistic anti-CD95 mAbs or doxorubicin and quantified by TUNEL and MTT assays. Stable expression of cIAP-2 was obtained by retroviral transduction.


RESULTS
The expression of cIAP-2 mRNA was highly correlated with resistance to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis. Overexpression of cIAP-2 conferred resistance to previously sensitive cell lines and made cells less susceptible to doxorubicin. Treatment with doxorubicin in combination with TRAIL or anti-CD95 resulted in a synergistic cytotoxic effect, which was not possible to reverse by overexpression of cIAP-2.


CONCLUSION
cIAP-2 is an important regulator of apoptosis in bladder cancer and its overexpression may make tumours less susceptible to therapy involving apoptosis. The combination of immunotherapy and chemotoxic agents may represent a valid strategy to potentiate anti-tumour therapy, in particular treating tumours resisting conventional chemotherapy.