Abstract 3867: Microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1: A therapeutic target in bladder cancer
Authors: Woolbright Benjamin Leeland , Barney Jordan , Schloegel Van Schloegel , Abbott Erika , Taylor John Arthur 
Published: August 2019

Introduction and Objective: Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a lipid-derived signaling agent that promotes tumorigenesis via increasing stemness, proliferation, and angiogenesis. PGE2 levels are elevated in multiple cancers, including bladder (BCa) where they may play a pathological role. PGE2 is generated in part by cyclooxygenase enzymes (COX-1/COX-2). Clinical trials using the COX-2 specific inhibitor celecoxib to prevent progression and recurrence of non-muscle invasive BCa report hazard ratio reductions; however, celecoxib fails to significantly outperform standard of care. These studies are dose-limited by cardiotoxicity present with COX inhibition, but have suggested higher doses of celecoxib may yield significant results. Microsomal PGE2 synthase-1 (mPGES-1) is one of two terminal enzymes (downstream of COX-1/2) associated with PGE2 production. Inhibition of mPGES-1 does not affect synthesis of the prostaglandins responsible for cardiotoxicity but still reduces PGE2 levels. Using a model of carcinogen induced BCa, we have previously established mPGES1-/- have significantly smaller bladder tumors by weight, reduced pathological stage, reduced PGE-2 metabolites, and reductions in percent tumor involvement in the bladder compared to WT mice. The purpose of this study was to further understand mPGES mediated tumorigenesis using in vitro cellular models. We hypothesized pharmacological inhibition with the mPGES-1 specific inhibitor MF63 would reduce PGE2 levels leading to reduced cellular proliferation and reduced PGE2 release in vitro.

Methods: mPGES1 protein and RNA levels were measured in benign (UROtsa) or malignant BCa cell lines using western blotting and qPCR respectively. PGE2 levels were assessed by ELISA. Cell proliferation was assessed using the hexosaminidase assay and colony formation assays. Cell death was assessed using lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release.

Results: In vitro, BCa cell lines HT-1376, RT-4 and HTB-9 significantly upregulate mPGES1 as compared to a benign urothelial cell line (UROtsa). To assess the capacity of MF63 to effect PGE2 production, we treated HT-1376 and HTB-9 cells with MF63 at increasing concentrations and assessed PGE2 levels. MF63 significantly reduced PGE2 production after 24h in both cell lines. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of mPGES1 with MF63 at concentrations of 10µM and above significantly reduced cellular proliferation after 48 or 72 hours using both colony formation and the hexosaminidase assay to assess proliferation. Finally, concentrations of 50µM MF63 robustly induced cell death as measured by LDH release.

Conclusions: These data show that inhibition of mPGES1 in vitro with the inhibitor MF63 results in decreases in PGE2 levels and reduced cellular proliferation, likely due in part to cell death induction. mPGES1 inhibitors are expected to have improved safety profiles and given our results, may have therapeutic potential in BCa.

Citation Format: Benjamin Leeland Woolbright, Jordan Barney, Van Schloegel Schloegel, Erika Abbott, John Arthur Taylor. Microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1: A therapeutic target in bladder cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3867.