蒽贝素(Embelin)通过阻断NF-κB信号通路抑制肝癌细胞Bel-7404生长的研究

蒽贝素(Embelin)是一种X连锁凋亡抑制蛋白(X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein, XIAP)的小分子抑制剂,可以抑制XIAP的生成和活性,从而解除XIAP的抗凋亡作用,使凋亡顺利进行．研究了Embelin抑制肝癌细胞Bel-7404增殖的机制．采用不同浓度梯度,通过荧光显微镜、Hochest33342染色、MTT检测、AnnexinⅤ/PI流式细胞术和Western blot分别检测Embelin对Bel-7404细胞的形态学变化、凋亡小体形成、细胞存活率、细胞凋亡水平、凋亡信号转导相关蛋白表达的影响．结果显示,Embelin能明显抑制Bel-7404细胞增殖,并通过激活caspase通路以及阻断NF-κB信号通路诱导Bel-7404细胞凋亡,为进一步利用Embelin进行肝癌治疗的研究打下一定的基础．     

PHA-767491抑制多种肿瘤细胞生长

Cdc7激酶抑制剂PHA-767491是最新发现的一类抗肿瘤新药.本实验利用不同浓度的PHA-767491对肿瘤细胞进行抑制研究.实验结果显示,PHA-767491对肿瘤细胞有很强的生长抑制作用,且抑制效果随着药物浓度或时间的增加而增强;通过和化疗药物5-氟尿嘧啶对比发现,PHA-767491只需较低剂量就能发挥出抑制肿瘤的作用,且疗效远高于5-氟尿嘧啶.研究进一步还发现,PHA-767491可通过促使PARP和casepase3蛋白的剪切诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡,同时PHA-767491还可以引起肿瘤细胞自噬.综上研究表明,PHA-767491可以通过诱导细胞凋亡和引起细胞自噬作用对多种肿瘤细胞有较好的治疗效果,而对正常细胞毒性很低.因此该实验研究为今后抗肿瘤新药PHA-767491的进一步应用于癌症的临床治疗提供了重要的实验依据.     

MG132抑制肝癌细胞Bel-7404生长的机制研究

MG132(Z-Leu-leu-leu-CHO) 是一种蛋白酶体抑制剂,它可逆地抑制蛋白酶体活性,从而抑制泛素-蛋白酶体通路所介导的蛋白质降解,诱导细胞凋亡．实验研究MG132抑制肝癌细胞Bel-7404生长的机制．采用不同浓度梯度和时间梯度,通过荧光显微镜、透射电子显微镜、Hoechst33342染色、MTT检测、AnnexinⅤ/PI流式细胞术、Western blot分别检测MG132 对Bel-7404细胞的形态学变化、细胞内质网压力变化、自噬泡形成、凋亡小体形成、细胞存活率、细胞凋亡水平、凋亡及自噬信号途径中相关蛋白质表达的影响．结果显示,MG132能明显抑制Bel-7404细胞生长．通过增加内质网压力激活Caspase-12,也可通过线粒体途径调节Bcl-2/Bax水平,促进细胞色素c的释放,两者皆可激活下游效应Caspase-3,剪切PARP,诱导细胞凋亡．同时,MG132可诱导Beclin 1 和LC3B的上调,促使Bel-7404细胞发生自噬,可在透射电镜下观察到自噬泡形成．上述结果表明,MG132作用Bel-7404细胞涉及两类细胞程序性死亡途径：细胞凋亡和自噬．     

盐酸阿霉素增强溶瘤腺病毒ZD55-TRAIL抑制肝癌细胞生长的研究

盐酸阿霉素(DOX)作为一种抗肿瘤抗生素,通过抑制癌细胞遗传物质的合成,对多种肿瘤均有杀伤作用,然而,其单独作用疗效有限,且加大剂量时其副作用较强。目前,携带抗癌基因的溶瘤腺病毒在肿瘤治疗中的作用日渐显现,溶瘤腺病毒ZD55-Trail联合DOX治疗肝癌的研究鲜有报道。通过MTT和结晶紫染色试验检测DOX药物处理对肝癌细胞系Bel-7404存活率的变化情况;Hoechst33342染色和流式细胞术检测肝癌细胞的凋亡;Western blot检测Trail蛋白和凋亡相关蛋白的表达;免疫荧光和流式细胞术检测凋亡相关受体表达的情况。结果显示,ZD55-Trail与DOX联合使用能够有效抑制肝癌细胞增长并诱导其凋亡,并且联合处理能增加Trail受体DR4和DR5的表达。初步探讨了DOX与ZD55-Trail两者协同诱导肝癌细胞凋亡的机制,为利用ZD55-Trail与DOX联合治疗肝癌提供依据。     

阿帕替尼对人肝癌细胞增殖及凋亡的作用机制研究

目的:探讨阿帕替尼抑制肝癌细胞增殖促进凋亡的作用机制。方法:选取肝癌细胞系SNU739、HepG2,以CCK-8细胞增殖实验、平板克隆实验测定阿帕替尼对肝癌细胞增殖及克隆形成能力的影响;流式细胞术检测阿帕替尼对肝癌细胞凋亡的影响;蛋白免疫印迹法检测阿帕替尼影响肝癌细胞凋亡相关蛋白Bax、Bcl-2及Caspase3的表达情况。结果:与对照组相比,阿帕替尼可显著抑制肝癌细胞增殖(P0.05)。平板克隆实验提示与对照组相比,10μM和20μM阿帕替尼组肝癌细胞克隆数明显减少(P0.05)。流式细胞术结果提示10μM和20μM阿帕替尼处理组细胞凋亡率明显增加(P0.05)。蛋白免疫印迹法结果显示经阿帕替尼处理的肝癌细胞,促凋亡蛋白Bax及Caspase3的活性片段Cleaved-caspase3表达水平显著上调,抗凋亡蛋白Bcl-2显著下调(P0.01)。结论:阿帕替尼通过调节肝癌细胞凋亡相关蛋白从而抑制肝癌细胞增殖、促进其凋亡。     

补骨脂酚通过激活ROS强化TRAIL的抗肝细胞癌HepG2细胞作用的机制研究

目的:探究补骨脂酚(Bakuchiol,Bak)对肿瘤坏死因子相关凋亡诱导配体(Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand,TRAIL)抗HepG2细胞作用的影响及内在机制。方法:常规培养HepG2细胞,给予梯度浓度的Bak处理,检测细胞活力。联合应用Bak与TRAIL处理,检测细胞活力。Western blot检测Bak处理后氧化应激水平、死亡受体4(Death Receptor 4,DR4)、DR5的表达变化。联合应用Bak与TRAIL检测凋亡情况。进而引入ROS清除剂NAC,联合NAC处理后,检测ROS、DR4、DR5以及凋亡情况。结果:Bak剂量依赖地抑制了HepG2细胞的活力,联合应用Bak+TRAIL对细胞活力的抑制作用优于单独用药。Bak处理后氧化应激水平升高,体现在ROS增加,GSH水平下降;Western blot检测发现Bak处理后DR4、DR5表达增加。联合应用Bak+TRAIL显著增加了细胞凋亡蛋白Bax的表达,抑制了抗凋亡蛋白Bcl2的表达。引入ROS阻断剂NAC处理后,与Bak+TRAIL组相比,ROS水平下降,DR4、DR5表达减少。凋亡检测发现NAC处理降低了Bak+TRAIL引起的细胞凋亡。结论:Bak可以显著增强TRAIL引起的HepG2细胞凋亡,该作用可能与Bak激活氧化应激进而上调DR4、DR5表达有关。     

乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白调节TRAIL诱导的肝细胞凋亡

观察乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白(HBx)对肿瘤坏死因子相关的凋亡诱导配体(TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand, TRAIL)诱导肝细胞凋亡的影响并初步探讨其分子机制. 构建包含HBx基因的真核表达载体pcDNA-HBx, 转染BEL7402肝癌细胞, 建立可稳定表达HBx的肝癌细胞系BEL7402-HBx, 同时设立空载体pcDNA3转染对照组细胞BEL7402-cDNA3. 台盼蓝染色计数, Caspase3活性检测和TUNEL法检测TRAIL诱导BEL7402, BEL7402-cDNA3, BEL7402-HBx细胞凋亡的情况, 并通过流式细胞术分析3组细胞表面TRAIL受体的表达水平. 此外, 利用硫代反义寡核苷酸封闭HBV全基因转染肝癌细胞系HepG2.2.15中HBx蛋白的表达, 观察阻断前后对TRAIL诱导凋亡敏感性的改变, 进一步反向验证HBx对TRAIL诱导凋亡的调节作用. 台盼蓝染色计数提示TRAIL 对BEL7402, BEL7402-cDNA3, BEL7402-HBx均有剂量依赖性的细胞毒作用, 但在相同浓度TRAIL作用下, BEL7402-HBx细胞较BEL7402, BEL7402-cDNA3细胞有更高的敏感性. Caspase3活性检测结果分析发现, TRAIL作用后BEL7402-HBx细胞在较短时间内有更高的Caspase3活化水平. TUNEL结果显示, 10 mg/LTRAIL作用下, BEL7402-HBx细胞凋亡率可达(41.4±7.2)%, 显著高于对照组细胞. 反义封闭HepG2.2.15细胞中HBx基因的表达可部分阻断TRAIL诱导的凋亡. 两组实验结果均显示HBx的表达变化并不影响细胞表面TRAIL受体的表达模式. HBx蛋白参与调节TRAIL诱导的细胞凋亡, 可能在HBV相关疾病的发生中起一定作用, 这一作用与TRAIL受体表达水平无关. 从两个不同的侧面证实了HBx对TRAIL诱导细胞凋亡的调节作用, 为进一步论证凋亡失衡在HBV感染相关肝炎及肝癌发生中的作用提供了新的论据.     

肿瘤坏死因子相关的凋亡诱导配体(TRAIL)基因抑制小鼠子宫基质细胞的蜕膜化

为了观察肿瘤坏死因子相关凋亡诱导配体(TRAIL)基因对体外培养的小鼠蜕膜基质细胞增殖及凋亡的作用,探讨TRAIL对小鼠子宫蜕膜化进程的影响,构建TRAIL过表达及干扰质粒,转染小鼠基质细胞后诱导蜕膜化发生.转染72h后,应用半定量RT-PCR和Western blotting检测蜕膜基质细胞中TRAILmRNA和蛋白质的表达情况、MTT法观察蜕膜基质细胞的生长和增殖能力、流式细胞术检测蜕膜基质细胞的细胞周期分布情况和凋亡率.经酶切和核苷酸测序证实,TRAIL基因正确克隆入真核表达载体且能够上调TRAIL的表达,干扰质粒能有效地抑制TRAIL基因的表达.TRAIL过表达和RNA干扰的结果表明:TRAIL具有将蜕膜基质细胞阻滞在G0/G1期、抑制蜕膜基质细胞增殖并促使其凋亡的功效,提示TRAIL可能参与调节胚胎植入后基质细胞的有序蜕膜化进程.     

JKA97诱导HepG2凋亡及其分子机制研究

目的:研究药物JKA97对人肝癌细胞HepG2增殖的抑制作用及其分子机制.方法:采用MTT法观察药物JKA97对细胞增殖的影响;倒置显微镜观察细胞形态变化;流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡;Western blot方法检测线粒体融合蛋白mfn2表达水平变化.结果:药物JKA97抑制人肝癌细胞HepG2细胞增殖,5、10、20 μmol/L作用组24 h抑制率分别为34.26%、43.08%、54.02%;药物JKA97诱导人肝癌细胞HepG2凋亡,10、20 μmol/L JKA97作用HepG2细胞24h,细胞凋亡率分别为22.9%、72.9%;线粒体融合蛋白mfn2表达水平显著降低.结论:药物JKA97对人肝癌细胞HepG2生长具有明显的增殖抑制作用,诱导细胞凋亡;线粒体融合蛋白mfn2表达水平降低可能是其重要的分子机制之一.     

维甲酸对肝癌细胞HepG2糖基化磷脂酰肌醇特异性磷酯酶D表达及细胞生物学特性的影响

应用MTT、流式细胞仪、免疫印迹法检测全反式维甲酸(ATRA)单独或联合糖基化磷脂酰肌醇特异性磷酯酶D(GPI-PLD)特异性抑制剂1,10-二氮杂菲对肝癌细胞HepG2生物学特性的改变.ATRA使肝癌细胞HepG2 GPI-PLD基因表达及酶活性上调,并呈现剂量和时间依赖性.ATRA可抑制肝癌细胞HepG2增殖,使肝癌细胞Caspase-3表达水平显著增加,Bcl-2表达水平下调,促进肝癌细胞凋亡(P<0.05).ATRA联合1,10-二氮杂菲诱导组细胞,Bcl-2、细胞增殖活性较ATRA单独诱导组显著增强,Caspase-3、凋亡率显著下降.维甲酸可促进肝癌细胞HepG2 GPI-PLD基因表达上调,高活性的GPI-PLD有助于维甲酸抑制肝癌细胞增殖,促进肝癌细胞凋亡.     

The Potent Cdc7-Dbf4 (DDK) Kinase Inhibitor XL413 Has Limited Activity in Many Cancer Cell Lines and Discovery of Potential New DDK Inhibitor Scaffolds

Cdc7-Dbf4 kinase or DDK (Dbf4-dependent kinase) is required to initiate DNA replication by phosphorylating and activating the replicative Mcm2-7 DNA helicase. DDK is overexpressed in many tumor cells and is an emerging chemotherapeutic target since DDK inhibition causes apoptosis of diverse cancer cell types but not of normal cells. PHA-767491 and XL413 are among a number of potent DDK inhibitors with low nanomolar IC₅₀ values against the purified kinase. Although XL413 is highly selective for DDK, its activity has not been extensively characterized on cell lines. We measured anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects of XL413 on a panel of tumor cell lines compared to PHA-767491, whose activity is well characterized. Both compounds were effective biochemical DDK inhibitors but surprisingly, their activities in cell lines were highly divergent. Unlike PHA-767491, XL413 had significant anti-proliferative activity against only one of the ten cell lines tested. Since XL413 did not effectively inhibit DDK in multiple cell lines, this compound likely has limited bioavailability. To identify potential leads for additional DDK inhibitors, we also tested the cross-reactivity of ∼400 known kinase inhibitors against DDK using a DDK thermal stability shift assay (TSA). We identified 11 compounds that significantly stabilized DDK. Several inhibited DDK with comparable potency to PHA-767491, including Chk1 and PKR kinase inhibitors, but had divergent chemical scaffolds from known DDK inhibitors. Taken together, these data show that several well-known kinase inhibitors cross-react with DDK and also highlight the opportunity to design additional specific, biologically active DDK inhibitors for use as chemotherapeutic agents.     

A Cdc7 kinase inhibitor restricts initiation of DNA replication and has antitumor activity

Cdc7 is an essential kinase that promotes DNA replication by activating origins of replication. Here, we characterized the potent Cdc7 inhibitor PHA-767491 (1) in biochemical and cell-based assays, and we tested its antitumor activity in rodents. We found that the compound blocks DNA synthesis and affects the phosphorylation of the replicative DNA helicase at Cdc7-dependent phosphorylation sites. Unlike current DNA synthesis inhibitors, PHA-767491 prevents the activation of replication origins but does not impede replication fork progression, and it does not trigger a sustained DNA damage response. Treatment with PHA-767491 results in apoptotic cell death in multiple cancer cell types and tumor growth inhibition in preclinical cancer models. To our knowledge, PHA-767491 is the first molecule that directly affects the mechanisms controlling initiation as opposed to elongation in DNA replication, and its activities suggest that Cdc7 kinase inhibition could be a new strategy for the development of anticancer therapeutics.     

Anticancer drugs are synergistic with freezing in induction of apoptosis in HCC cells

Cryotherapy has been shown to be an important therapeutic alternative to surgery in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, the influence of cryo-chemotherapy on HCC was examined in vitro using the human HCC cell line Bel-7402, a drug-resistant HCC cell line originating from Bel-7402 cells (Bel-7402/R), as well as two control cell lines, the HCC cell line SMMC-7721 and a colorectal tumor cell line HIC-251. Cells were treated with either exposure to different freezing temperatures (ranging from −15 to −80 °C for 20 min), exposure to sub-lethal concentrations of anticancer chemotherapy drugs or a combination of cryotherapy and chemotherapy. Cell viability and apoptosis under each condition were investigated. We found that the combined treatment resulted in increases in both cell death and apoptosis compared to either treatment alone. The increased level of apoptosis observed in Bel-7402 cells after cryo-chemotherapy was inhibited in the presence of caspase inhibitors. Furthermore, Bax expression was increased 2- to 3-fold in cells exposed to the combination treatment compared with cells treated by freezing or drugs alone. In contrast, Bcl-2 levels remained constant. Although Bel-7402/R cells originated from the Bel-7402 cell line, they were more sensitive to the freezing procedure than the parental cell line. The level of Bax expression in Bel-7402/R cells was also higher than that observed in the parental cell line. In addition, we found that Bel-7402/R cells had lower levels of survivin mRNA than the parental Bel-7402 cells, in both untreated and treated cells. In conclusion, our data show that in HCC cells, apoptosis induced by cryotherapy can be synergistically enhanced using anticancer drugs.     

Antisense EGFR sequence enhances apoptosis in a human hepatoma cell line BEL—7404

Effects of antisense epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) sequence on apoptotic cell death were examined in a human hepatoma cell line BEL-7404 cells.In the cells of JX-1,a sub clone of BEL-7404 stably transfected with antisense EGFR vector (Cell Research,3:75,1993),an enhanced rate(9.5%) of spontaneous apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry,whereas the rates of spontaneous apoptosis in JX-0 cells,a sub-clone of BEL-7404 transfected by control vector,and the parent BEL-7404 transfected by control vector,and the parent BEL-7404 transfected by control vector,and the parent BEL-7404 cells were almost equal and about 1.7%.Serum-starvation for 72h increased the rate of apoptosis of JX-lcells up to 33.7%,while JX-0 and BEL-7404 cells,under the same condition,produced less than 5% of apoptotic cells.Observation with electron microscope demonstrated that condensation and fragmentation of chromatin and formation of apoptotic bodies often occurred in JX-1 cells,especially during serumstarvation.These results,combined with the data of DNA fragmentation Elisa test,suggested that antisense EGFR sequence enhances apoptosis in the human hepatoma cells.Comparison of intracellular Ca^2 level and the responsiveness of JX-1 cells to the induced action of EGF and tharpsigargin (TG) treatment with that of control JX-0 cells indicated that antisense egfr might interrupt the EGF/EGFR sigaling pathway resulting in the decreass of intracellular Ca^2 pool content as well as the responsiveness of these cells to the extracellular signals.These findings suggest that antisense EGFR either directly or indirectly regulates Ca^2 storage in endoplasmic reticulum,thereby enhances apoptosis in the human hepatoma cells.     

Sub-toxic dose of apigenin sensitizes HepG2 cells to TRAIL through ERK-dependent up-regulation of TRAIL receptor DR5

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is regarded as a promising candidate for anticancer therapy due to its selective toxicity to cancer cells. Nevertheless, because of TRAIL resistance in some cancer cells, combined treatment with sensitizing agents is required to enhance the anticancer potential of TRAIL. In this study, we investigated the underlying mechanism of apigenin-induced sensitization of HepG2 cells to TRAIL-induced cell death. Synergistic induction of apoptosis by combination was confirmed by examining the typical morphology changes of apoptosis, PARP-cleavage, and activation of effector caspases. Z-VAD-fmk, a pan-caspase inhibitor, inhibited the enhanced cell death by combined treatment of apigenin and TRAIL, demonstrating that a caspase-dependent pathway is involved in apigenin/TRAIL-mediated apoptosis. In addition, we found that apigenin/ TRAIL co-treatment up-regulates DR5 cell surface expression. The synergistic induction of cell death by the apigenin/ TRAIL combination was significantly attenuated by DR5 blocking chimera antibody. Next, using pharmacological inhibitors, we found that ERK activation is involved in the induction of DR5 expression. Inhibition of ERK1/2 by U0126 significantly decreased the apigenin/TRAIL-induced DR5 expression and apoptosis. Taken together, our results indicate that apigenin can enhance the apoptotic effect of TRAIL via ERK-induced up-regulation of DR5.     

基于肝癌细胞线粒体功能受损和caspase-3信号通路探讨罗哌卡因促进肝癌细胞凋亡的作用机制研究

摘要 目的：基于肝癌细胞线粒体功能受损和天冬氨酸蛋白水解酶3（caspase-3）信号通路探讨罗哌卡因促进肝癌细胞凋亡的作用机制。方法：选用细胞株人肝癌细胞BEL-7402进行实验研究。用不同浓度罗哌卡因处理BEL-7402细胞后,采用溴化噻唑蓝四氮唑（MTT）法检测肝癌细胞的增殖情况,光镜及4,6-二苯胺-2-苯吲哚二盐酸盐（DAPI）溶液染色观察细胞形态,台盼蓝染色法测定细胞活力,流式细胞术分析BEL-7402细胞的凋亡情况,电子显微镜下观察细胞线粒体,激光共聚焦显微镜观察caspase-3在BEL-7402细胞中的细胞核迁移情况,蛋白免疫印迹试验评价罗哌卡因对细胞质凋亡相关蛋白、线粒体凋亡相关蛋白、BEL-7402细胞和线粒体凋亡相关蛋白表达的影响。结果：罗哌卡因能够抑制肝癌细胞的生长,并呈剂量依赖性和时间依赖性。罗哌卡因可诱导BEL-7402细胞发生凋亡,显著增加BEL-7402细胞的凋亡率。罗哌卡因能够损伤肝癌细胞线粒体功能。激光共聚焦显微镜观察显示caspase-3分子迁移到细胞核。罗哌卡因与caspase-3相互作用,促进caspase-3向细胞核内迁移,刺激caspase-3和聚腺苷二磷酸核糖聚合酶（PARP-1）、天冬氨酸蛋白水解酶9（caspase-9）蛋白的表达,抑制B细胞淋巴瘤-2基因（Bcl-2）的表达,促进凋亡酶激活因子（Apaf-1）的表达,促进线粒体释放细胞色素C（Cytochrome C）,激活caspase-3活性。结论：罗哌卡因具有促进肝癌细胞凋亡的作用,其作用机制可能与破坏肝癌细胞线粒体功能和激活caspase-3信号通路有关。     

Stiffness changes of tumor HEp2 cells correlates with the inhibition and release of TRAIL-induced apoptosis pathways

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a promising apoptotic agent that can selectively act on tumor cells. However, some cancer cells are resistant to TRAIL mediated apoptosis. In specific type of cells, sensitization by chemotherapeutic drugs may overcome the resistance to TRAIL induced apoptosis. In this work, atomic force microscopy (AFM) nanoindentation spectroscopy combined with fluorescence methods were used to investigate the biomechanical aspects of the resistance and unblocking of apoptosis in larynx carcinoma HEp2 cells treated with TRAIL. It is shown that there is a direct correlation between the increase in mechanical cell stiffness and the inhibition of apoptosis induced by TRAIL in HEp2 cells. Conversely, unblocking of apoptosis by sensitization of HEp2 cells with a chemotherapeutic drug Actinomycin D is related to the depolymerization of F-actin and to the decrease in the cell stiffness. Both effects, that is, changes in the mechanical stiffness of the cell and the inhibition of apoptotic pathway, are closely related to the Bcl-2 activity. Most probably, the depolymerization of F-actin results from downregulation of Rho protein, which in turn is accompanied by a lower activity of Bcl-2 and in consequence releases the intrinsic apoptotic channel. The presented results reveal a promising application of nanoindentation spectroscopy with an AFM tip as a novel tool for monitoring the processes of apoptosis inhibition.     

Lestaurtinib potentiates TRAIL‐induced apoptosis in glioma via CHOP‐dependent DR5 induction

Lestaurtinib, also called CEP‐701, is an inhibitor of tyrosine kinase, causes haematological remission in patients with AML possessing FLT3‐ITD (FLT3 gene) internal tandem duplication and strongly inhibits tyrosine kinase FLT3. Treatment with lestaurtinib modulates various signalling pathways and leads to cell growth arrest and programmed cell death in several tumour types. However, the effect of lestaurtinib on glioma remains unclear. In this study, we examined lestaurtinib and TRAIL interactions in glioma cells and observed their synergistic activity on glioma cell apoptosis. While U87 and U251 cells showed resistance to TRAIL single treatment, they were sensitized to apoptosis induced by TRAIL in the presence of lestaurtinib because of increased death receptor 5 (DR5) levels through CHOP‐dependent manner. We also demonstrated using a xenograft model of mouse that the tumour growth was absolutely suppressed because of the combined treatment compared to TRAIL or lestaurtinib treatment carried out singly. Our findings reveal a potential new strategy to improve antitumour activity induced by TRAIL in glioma cells using lestaurtinib through a mechanism dependent on CHOP.