Synergistic action by multi-targeting compounds produces a potent compound combination for human NSCLC both in vitro and in vivo

By screening a collection of one hundred combinations of thiazolidinone compounds, we identified one combination (M4) that synergistically inhibited the growth of H460 and H460/TaxR cells and tumor growth in H460/TaxR xenograft mice. A whole genome microarray assay showed that genes involved in negative regulation of microtubule polymerization or depolymerization, intracellular protein kinase cascade, positive regulation of histone acetylation, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis were upregulated. Further analysis proved that the four compounds act as either microtubule polymerization inhibitors or histone deacetylase inhibitors. They act synergistically targeting multiple proteins and leading to the regulation of cell cycle checkpoint proteins, including p53, p21, cdc25C and cdc2, the activation of caspases, JNK, p38 cascades and the inactivation of Akt. These events resulted in the G2/M cell cycle arrest and cell apoptosis. These data provide a new strategy for discovering anticancer drugs and drug combinations for drug-resistant cancers.