Identification of heat shock protein 90 inhibitors to sensitize drug resistant side population tumor cells using a cell based assay platform

Current cancer therapeutics are identified based on initial tumor regression screens that mostly kill differentiated tumor cells, sparing the rare cancer stem cells (CSCs). Being rare and difficult to characterize, it remains a challenge to identify compounds active against them. Side population (SP) cells identified in multiple cancer cell line panels expressing mitochondrial Cytochrome C-EGFP were evaluated for identifying possible drug candidates utilizing high-throughput imaging. We identified heat shock protein 90 inhibitors as potential agents to sensitize SP cells to anticancer drugs. Hsp90 inhibitors induced down regulation of Akt leading to proteasomal degradation of survivin and consequent mitochondrial apoptosis. A successful screening platform for identifying compounds targeting drug resistant side population cells was developed.