PTC209, a Specific Inhibitor of BMI1, Promotes Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in Cervical Cancer Cell Lines

Background/aim: Aberrant expression of the BMI1 oncogene has been prevalently found in a variety of human cancers, including cervical cancer. Recent studies have shown that PTC209, a specific BMI1 inhibitor, exhibits high potency in inhibiting the growth of colon, breast, oral cancer cells and cancer-initiating cells, indicative of its chemotherapeutic potential. In the current study, we evaluated the inhibitory abilities of PTC209 in cervical cancer cells.

Materials And Methods: Three cervical cell lines, C33A, HeLa, and SiHa were treated with PTC209. The impacts of PTC209 on BMI1 were investigated using quantitative reverse-transcription PCR assay (qRT-PCR) and western blotting; changes in cell viability, cell cycle distribution, and apoptosis were assessed using cell viability testing, colony formation assay and flow cytometry analyses, respectively.

Results: PTC209 exhibited considerably high short-term and long-term cytotoxicities in all tested cervical cancer cell lines regardless of their HPV infection status, TP53 and pRb statuses. PTC209 significantly downregulated the expression of BMI1 in cervical cancer cell lines, and such downregulation led to G0/G1 arrest (p<0.05). Moreover, PTC209 drove more cells into apoptosis (p<0.05).

Conclusion: PTC209 (BMI1-targeting agents, in general) represents a novel chemotherapeutic agent with potential in cervical cancer therapy.