Combination with vorinostat enhances the antitumor activity of cisplatin in castration‐resistant prostate cancer by inhibiting DNA damage repair pathway and detoxification of GSH

Abstract Background Like DNA methylation, histone modifications are considered important processes for epigenetic alterations in gene function, and abnormally high expression of histone deacetylases (HDACs) plays a key role in many human diseases. In addition to regulating the acetylation levels of histone and non‐histone proteins and gene transcription, HDAC inhibitors as antitumor drugs can also affect the DNA damage repair (DDR) pathway in tumor cells. Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most heritable malignancies in which DDR pathway defects can be detected in a considerable proportion of cases. Such defects are more prevalent in castration‐resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and are highly enriched in metastatic lesions. There is currently evidence that DDR pathway‐deficient PCa is associated with high‐risk biological behaviors and response sensitivity to platinum‐based chemotherapy. Platinum‐based drugs have been used in multiple clinical trials as monotherapy or in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of CRPC. Methods This study evaluated the combined anticancer effect of (cisplatin) CDDP and the HDAC inhibitors vorinostat (SAHA) on three androgen‐dependent cell lines PC‐3, DU‐145, and C4‐2B in vitro. The efficacy and safety of SAHA combined with CDDP in the treatment of CRPC were further verified through animal experiments. Results The combination of the two drugs increases cytotoxic effects by increasing DNA damage. Our results showed that the SAHA could not only reduce the expression of homologous recombinant repair proteins BRCA2, BRCA1, PARP1, and RAD51, but also decrease enzymes that Reduce the key enzymes of GSH biosynthesis, GSS and GCLC, and GSTP1 which can catalyze the binding of GSH to cisplatin. The intracellular GSH level also decreased with the increase of SAHA concentration, at the same time, the content of intracellular Pt element. Conclusion The combination of CDDP and SAHA can produce synergistic anticancer effects in androgen‐independent PCa cells in vitro and in vivo. Our results open up a new avenue for the effective treatment of CRPC. To optimize the chemotherapy regimen for patients with advanced PCa, it is necessary to further study the molecular mechanism of platinum drugs, HDAC inhibitors, and their combined action.