Differential effects of 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin on autophagy in chemoresistant colorectal cancer cells

Macroautophagy (hereafter autophagy) is one of the adaptive pathways that contribute to cancer cell chemoresistance. Despite the fact that autophagy can both promote and inhibit cell death, there is mounting evidence that in the context of anticancer treatment, it predominantly functions as a cell survival mechanism. Therefore, silencing of key autophagy genes emerges as a potent strategy to reduce chemoresistance. Though the importance of autophagy in chemoresistance is established, the changes in autophagy in the case of acquired chemoresistance are poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to determine the changes of autophagy in the cellular model of acquired chemoresistance of colorectal cancer cell lines HCT116 and SW620, induced by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or oxaliplatin (OxaPt) treatment, and determine the susceptible factors for autophagy inhibition. Our results demonstrate that in the context of autophagy, 5-FU and OxaPt have different effects on HCT116 and SW620 cell lines and their chemoresistant sublines. 5-FU inhibits autophagic flux, while changes in the flux after OxaPt treatment are cell type- and dose-dependent, inducing autophagy reduction or increase. The chemoresistant subline of HCT116 cells derived by OxaPt differs from the subline derived by 5-FU treatment - it responds to OxaPt by upregulating ATG7 protein level and autophagic flux, in contrast to downregulation in cells derived by 5-FU. Moreover, 5-FU and OxaPt treatments significantly modulate protein levels of core-autophagy proteins ATG7 and ATG12. The potential effects of 5-FU and OxaPt on ATG protein levels should be taken into account to reduce chemoresistance by applying small interferingRNAs, targeting ATG proteins.

Automated summary

Autophagy plays a crucial role in cancer cell chemoresistance, but the changes in autophagy in the case of acquired chemoresistance are poorly understood. This study reveals that 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin have different effects on autophagy in colorectal cancer cell lines and their chemoresistant sublines. Additionally, the protein levels of core-autophagy proteins are significantly modulated by these treatments.