Melanoma therapy by TRAIL and KATP channel inhibitors

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The major findings of this research project are that:(1) the potentiation of the apoptosis by KATP channel inhibitors is a general phenomenon among cancer cells with different origins, including leukemia and lung cancer cells; (2) the effects of these channel inhibitors including depolarization induction are tumor-selective; (3) the potentiation of apoptosis occurs through upregulation of TRAIL receptors-1/2 and increased mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum death pathways; (4) mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediate the activation of death signaling pathways, and depolarization and ROS mutually regulate one another. The findings provide a molecular basis of the combined use of TRAIL and KATP channel inhibitors in the treatment of TRAIL-resistant cancer cells in connection with the emerging concept that oxidative stress is a critical mediator of mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum dysfunctions and serves as a tumor-selective target in cancer treatment.