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HS-173, a selective PI3K inhibitor, induces cell death in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines

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Summary

Background

The selective PI3K (Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase) inhibitor HS-173 has anticancer activity in non-small cell lung cancer and pancreatic cancer cells. Of all head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) 20% harbor specific mutations in the genome. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of HS-173 on HNSCC cell lines.

Methods

The cell lines SCC25, CAL27 and FaDu were incubated with HS-173. Its antiproliferative effect was determined using the CCK‑8 cell proliferation assay. Combined incubation with cisplatin was performed and combination index analysis was conducted. To investigate its effect on radiotherapy, cells were irradiated with 2, 4, 6 and 8 Gy, respectively. Synergistic effects of radiation and HS-173 were measured by proliferation assays and clonogenic survival.

Results

The use of HS-173 induced significant reduction of cell proliferation across all cell lines. Most interestingly, it showed a synergistic effect with cisplatin treatment. Clonogenic survival revealed a radiosensitizing effect in CAL27 and FaDu cells. The HS-173 caused significant induction of apoptosis in SCC25 and FaDu cells.

Conclusion

The selective PI3K inhibitor HS-173 is a potent chemosensitizing and also radiosensitizing drug in treatment of HNSCC cell lines and could be an effective treatment in PI3K-mutated HNSCC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18–20, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    Elisabeth Foki MD, Isabella Stanisz MD, Lorenz Kadletz MD, Ulana Kotowski MD & Gregor Heiduschka MD, PD

  2. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Rudolf Seemann MD, DMD, MSc, MBA

  3. Department of Radiotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Rainer Schmid MD

Authors
  1. Elisabeth Foki MD
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  2. Isabella Stanisz MD
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  3. Lorenz Kadletz MD
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  4. Ulana Kotowski MD
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  5. Rudolf Seemann MD, DMD, MSc, MBA
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  6. Rainer Schmid MD
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  7. Gregor Heiduschka MD, PD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gregor Heiduschka MD, PD.

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Conflict of interest

E. Foki, I. Stanisz, L. Kadletz, U. Kotowski, R. Seemann, R. Schmid, and G. Heiduschka declare that they have no competing interests.

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This study has been performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments.

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Foki, E., Stanisz, I., Kadletz, L. et al. HS-173, a selective PI3K inhibitor, induces cell death in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines. Wien Klin Wochenschr 133, 26–31 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-020-01729-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-020-01729-3

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