Loss of Uracil DNA Glycosylase Selectively Resensitizes p53-Mutant and -Deficient Cells to 5-FdU

Thymidylate synthase (TS) inhibitors including fluoropyrimidines [e.g., 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and 5-Fluorodeoxyuridine (5-FdU, floxuridine)] and antifolates (e.g., pemetrexed) are widely used against solid tumors. Previously, we reported that shRNA-mediated knockdown (KD) of uracil DNA glycosylase (UDG) sensitized cancer cells to 5-FdU. Because p53 has also been shown as a critical determinant of the sensitivity to TS inhibitors, we further interrogated 5-FdU cytotoxicity after UDG depletion with regard to p53 status. By analyzing a panel of human cancer cells with known p53 status, it was determined that p53-mutated or -deficient cells are highly resistant to 5-FdU. UDG depletion resensitizes 5-FdU in p53-mutant and -deficient cells, whereas p53 wild-type (WT) cells are not affected under similar conditions. Utilizing paired HCT116 p53 WT and p53 knockout (KO) cells, it was shown that loss of p53 improves cell survival after 5-FdU, and UDG depletion only significantly sensitizes p53 KO cells. This sensitization can also be recapitulated by UDG depletion in cells with p53 KD by shRNAs. In addition, sensitization is also observed with pemetrexed in p53 KO cells, but not with 5-FU, most likely due to RNA incorporation. Importantly, in p53 WT cells, the apoptosis pathway induced by 5-FdU is activated independent of UDG status. However, in p53 KO cells, apoptosis is compromised in UDG-expressing cells, but dramatically elevated in UDG-depleted cells. Collectively, these results provide evidence that loss of UDG catalyzes significant cell death signals only in cancer cells mutant or deficient in p53.

Implications: This study reveals that UDG depletion restores sensitivity to TS inhibitors and has chemotherapeutic potential in the context of mutant or deficient p53. Mol Cancer Res; 16(2); 212–21. ©2017 AACR.

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