Inhibition of protein phosphatase 2A with a small molecule LB100 radiosensitizes nasopharyngeal carcinoma xenografts by inducing mitotic catastrophe and blocking DNA damage repair

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), while uncommon worldwide, is a major health problem in China. Although local radiation and surgery provide good control of NPC, better treatments that permit reductions in radiation dosing are needed. Inhibition of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), a ubiquitous multifunctional enzyme with critical roles in cell cycle regulation and DNA-damage response, reportedly sensitizes cancer cells to radiation and chemotherapy. We studied PP2A inhibition with LB100, a small molecule currently in a Phase I clinical trial, on radiosensitization of two human nasopharyngeal cell lines: CNE1, which is reportedly radioresistant, and CNE2. In both cell lines, LB100 exposure increased intracellular p-Plk1, TCTP, and Cdk1 and decreased p53, changes associated with cell cycle arrest, mitotic catastrophe and radio-inhibition of cell proliferation. Mice bearing subcutaneous xenografts of either cell line were administered 1.5 mg/kg LB100 daily for three days and a single dose of 20 Gy radiation (day 3), which produced marked and prolonged tumor mass regression (dose enhancement factors of 2.98 and 2.27 for CNE1 and CNE2 xenografts, respectively). Treatment with either LB100 or radiation alone only transiently inhibited xenograft growth. Our results support further exploration of PP2A inhibition as part of radiotherapy regimens for NPC and potentially other solid tumors.