Aim
Schlafen 12 (SLFN12) expression correlates with survival in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). SLFN12 slows TNBC proliferation and induces TNBC differentiation, but whether SLFN12 affects the tumoral response to chemotherapy or radiation is unknown. Materials and
Conclusion
SLFN12 increases TNBC sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents at least in part by reducing CHK1/2 phosphorylation. This may contribute to improved survival in patients whose TNBC over-expresses SLFN12. Therefore, SLFN12 levels may be used to customize or predict radiotherapy and chemotherapy effects in TNBC.
Methods
We over-expressed SLFN12 in MDA-MB-231 cells using two different lentiviral vectors. We assessed viable cell numbers via crystal violet assay after treatment with carboplatin, paclitaxel, olaparib, zoledronic acid, camptothecin, or cesium irradiation. CHK1 and CHK2 phosphorylation was assessed by western blot and the effects of inhibiting CHK1/CHK2 by AZD7762 were examined. Key findings were confirmed in Hs578t and BT549 TNBC cells after adenoviral SLFN12 over-expression.
Results
SLFN12 over-expression increased TNBC sensitivity to radiation, carboplatin, paclitaxel, zoledronic acid, and camptothecin, but not to olaparib. SLFN12 over-expression decreased CHK1 and CHK2 phosphorylation after treatment with the DNA damaging agent camptothecin (CPT). The CHK1/CHK2 inhibitor diminished the significant cytotoxicity difference between over-expression and baseline SLFN12 levels in response to carboplatin.