Abacavir enhances the efficacy of doxorubicin via inhibition of histone demethylase KDM5B in breast cancer

Abstract KDM5B, a lysine-specific histone demethylase, is widely upregulated in breast cancer. The current study investigated the role of KDM5B in breast cancer and explored the repurposing potential of the antiviral drug abacavir (ABC). The cytotoxic effects and the effect of ABC sensitization on d...

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Main Authors: Anmi Jose, Pallavi Kulkarni, Naveena AN Kumar, Nawaz Usman, Gabriel Sunil Rodrigues, Gautham G. Shenoy, Rama Rao Damerla, Murali Munisamy, Bharti Bisht, Sooryanarayana Varambally, Manash K. Paul, Neha Arya, Praveen PN Rao, Mahadev Rao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-13845-z
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author Anmi Jose
Pallavi Kulkarni
Naveena AN Kumar
Nawaz Usman
Gabriel Sunil Rodrigues
Gautham G. Shenoy
Rama Rao Damerla
Murali Munisamy
Bharti Bisht
Sooryanarayana Varambally
Manash K. Paul
Neha Arya
Praveen PN Rao
Mahadev Rao
author_facet Anmi Jose
Pallavi Kulkarni
Naveena AN Kumar
Nawaz Usman
Gabriel Sunil Rodrigues
Gautham G. Shenoy
Rama Rao Damerla
Murali Munisamy
Bharti Bisht
Sooryanarayana Varambally
Manash K. Paul
Neha Arya
Praveen PN Rao
Mahadev Rao
author_sort Anmi Jose
collection DOAJ
description Abstract KDM5B, a lysine-specific histone demethylase, is widely upregulated in breast cancer. The current study investigated the role of KDM5B in breast cancer and explored the repurposing potential of the antiviral drug abacavir (ABC). The cytotoxic effects and the effect of ABC sensitization on doxorubicin (DOX) efficacy were evaluated using 2-D and 3-D cell culture models. KDM5B expression was elevated in breast cancer tissues compared to normal breast tissues. In vitro studies demonstrated that ABC treatment reduced KDM5B expression in breast cancer cells and increased their sensitivity towards DOX. ABC induced late apoptosis and S-phase arrest, while the ABC + DOX combination led to S/G2 phase arrest, late apoptosis, and cell death. Data generated from patient-derived breast tumoroids corroborated the 2-D cell culture-based findings. Additionally, molecular docking studies indicated that the active drug metabolite carbovir triphosphate (CBV-TP) could interact with the DNA polymerase β-DNA complex, suggesting its potential mechanism to be incorporated into the DNA synthesis cycle, leading to cell cycle arrest in tumor cells. Our findings highlight the repurposing potential of ABC to target KDM5B in breast cancer. This approach enhanced the efficacy of DOX, which could allow further dose reduction and reduced side effects, offering a promising therapeutic strategy.
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spelling doaj-art-a5156313bfc54ac6bfccacc53a0f6b9e2025-08-20T03:42:49ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111610.1038/s41598-025-13845-zAbacavir enhances the efficacy of doxorubicin via inhibition of histone demethylase KDM5B in breast cancerAnmi Jose0Pallavi Kulkarni1Naveena AN Kumar2Nawaz Usman3Gabriel Sunil Rodrigues4Gautham G. Shenoy5Rama Rao Damerla6Murali Munisamy7Bharti Bisht8Sooryanarayana Varambally9Manash K. Paul10Neha Arya11Praveen PN Rao12Mahadev Rao13Department of Pharmacy Practice, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher EducationDepartment of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences BhopalDepartment of Surgical Oncology, Manipal Comprehensive Cancer Care Centre, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher EducationDepartment of Surgical Oncology, Manipal Comprehensive Cancer Care Centre, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher EducationDepartment of General Surgery, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher EducationDepartment of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher EducationDepartment of Medical Genetics, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher EducationDepartment of Translational Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences BhopalDepartment of Microbiology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher EducationDepartment of Pathology, University of Alabama at BirminghamDepartment of Radiation Biology and Toxicology, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher EducationDepartment of Translational Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences BhopalSchool of Pharmacy, Health Sciences Campus, University of WaterlooDepartment of Pharmacy Practice, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher EducationAbstract KDM5B, a lysine-specific histone demethylase, is widely upregulated in breast cancer. The current study investigated the role of KDM5B in breast cancer and explored the repurposing potential of the antiviral drug abacavir (ABC). The cytotoxic effects and the effect of ABC sensitization on doxorubicin (DOX) efficacy were evaluated using 2-D and 3-D cell culture models. KDM5B expression was elevated in breast cancer tissues compared to normal breast tissues. In vitro studies demonstrated that ABC treatment reduced KDM5B expression in breast cancer cells and increased their sensitivity towards DOX. ABC induced late apoptosis and S-phase arrest, while the ABC + DOX combination led to S/G2 phase arrest, late apoptosis, and cell death. Data generated from patient-derived breast tumoroids corroborated the 2-D cell culture-based findings. Additionally, molecular docking studies indicated that the active drug metabolite carbovir triphosphate (CBV-TP) could interact with the DNA polymerase β-DNA complex, suggesting its potential mechanism to be incorporated into the DNA synthesis cycle, leading to cell cycle arrest in tumor cells. Our findings highlight the repurposing potential of ABC to target KDM5B in breast cancer. This approach enhanced the efficacy of DOX, which could allow further dose reduction and reduced side effects, offering a promising therapeutic strategy.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-13845-zBreast cancerCarbovir triphosphateDrug repurposingEpigenetic targetingPrecision medicine
spellingShingle Anmi Jose
Pallavi Kulkarni
Naveena AN Kumar
Nawaz Usman
Gabriel Sunil Rodrigues
Gautham G. Shenoy
Rama Rao Damerla
Murali Munisamy
Bharti Bisht
Sooryanarayana Varambally
Manash K. Paul
Neha Arya
Praveen PN Rao
Mahadev Rao
Abacavir enhances the efficacy of doxorubicin via inhibition of histone demethylase KDM5B in breast cancer
Scientific Reports
Breast cancer
Carbovir triphosphate
Drug repurposing
Epigenetic targeting
Precision medicine
title Abacavir enhances the efficacy of doxorubicin via inhibition of histone demethylase KDM5B in breast cancer
title_full Abacavir enhances the efficacy of doxorubicin via inhibition of histone demethylase KDM5B in breast cancer
title_fullStr Abacavir enhances the efficacy of doxorubicin via inhibition of histone demethylase KDM5B in breast cancer
title_full_unstemmed Abacavir enhances the efficacy of doxorubicin via inhibition of histone demethylase KDM5B in breast cancer
title_short Abacavir enhances the efficacy of doxorubicin via inhibition of histone demethylase KDM5B in breast cancer
title_sort abacavir enhances the efficacy of doxorubicin via inhibition of histone demethylase kdm5b in breast cancer
topic Breast cancer
Carbovir triphosphate
Drug repurposing
Epigenetic targeting
Precision medicine
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-13845-z
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