Effects of zoledronic acid and docetaxel on small GTP-binding proteins in prostate cancer

Rachel M. Jones, Claire Morgan, Gianfilippo Bertelli

Increasingly, in castration-resistant prostate cancer, patients are often treated with docetaxel and the bisphosphonate zoledronic acid concurrently, yet there is still a paucity in the literature regarding the molecular basis of how this drug combination works. The study was performed on the hormone-resistant cell line PC-3. Cells were treated with clinically relevant concentrations of docetaxel and zoledronic acid either as single agents or in sequence and combination. Cell viability and apoptosis were assessed along with the prenylation status of the GTPases Ras and RhoA. Following 1-mM zoledronic acid treatment, inhibition of the prenylation of H-Ras and Rho A was observed along with an increase in the unprenylated form in the cytoplasm. Docetaxel 1 nM and zoledronic acid 1 mM also showed an increase in the unprenylated form of both small GTP-binding proteins in the cytoplasm and a reduction of protein in the membrane fraction. Overall, zoledronic acid followed by docetaxel was the best regimen producing the greatest reduction in cell viability and increase in apoptosis. At the highest concentrations of zoledronic acid and docetaxel, zoledronic acid followed by docetaxel was also the most effective at reducing the prenylation of both H-Ras and RhoA at the membrane. We have demonstrated that clinically achievable concentrations of zoledronic acid and docetaxel cause a reduction in the prenylation of both H-Ras and Rho A and a reduction of protein movement into the membrane. The most effective regimen overall was high-dose zoledronic acid followed by docetaxel, suggesting that this regimen may be of benefit in clinical practice.