ISRIB plus bortezomib triggers paraptosis in breast cancer cells via enhanced translation and subsequent proteotoxic stress

Despite the success of proteasome inhibitors (PIs) in treating hematopoietic malignancies, including multiple myeloma (MM), their clinical efficacy is limited in solid tumors. In this study, we investigated the involvement of the integrated stress response (ISR), a central cellular adaptive program that responds to proteostatic defects by tuning protein synthesis rates, in determining the fates of cells treated with PI, bortezomib (Bz). We found that Bz induces ISR, and this can be reversed by ISRIB, a small molecule that restores eIF2B-mediated translation during ISR, in both Bz-sensitive MM cells and Bz-insensitive breast cancer cells. Interestingly, while ISRIB protected MM cells from Bz-induced apoptosis, it enhanced Bz sensitivity in breast cancer cells by inducing paraptosis, the cell death mode that is accompanied by dilation of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria. Combined treatment with ISRIB and Bz may shift the fate of Bz-insensitive cancer cells toward paraptosis by inducing translational rescue, leading to irresolvable proteotoxic stress. (C) 2022 Published by Elsevier Inc.

Automated summary

Despite the success of proteasome inhibitors (PIs) in treating hematopoietic malignancies, their clinical efficacy is limited in solid tumors. This study investigated the involvement of the integrated stress response (ISR) in determining the fates of cells treated with the proteasome inhibitor, bortezomib (Bz). ISRIB, a small molecule that restores protein translation during ISR, reversed the ISR induced by Bz in both multiple myeloma (MM) cells and breast cancer cells, resulting in different outcomes: protecting MM cells from apoptosis and enhancing Bz sensitivity in breast cancer cells through inducing paraptosis.