Aggressive metastatic progression often develops in bladder cancer patients with acquired cisplatin or gemcitabine resistance. The potential of the natural isothiocyanates allyl-isothiocyanate (AITC), butyl-isothiocyanate (BITC), and phenylethyl-isothiocyanate (PEITC) to inhibit adhesion and migration of cisplatin- or gemcitabine-resistant and sensitive RT112, T24, and TCCSUP bladder cancer cell lines was investigated. Parameters determined were: cell interaction with collagen or fibronectin, chemotaxis, and membrane receptors involved in adhesion (total and activated integrins β1, β4, β5, CD44s, and CD44v3-v7). CD44s’ location and adhesion- and migration-related signaling proteins were determined. AITC blocked adhesion of almost all sensitive and resistant cancer cells. PEITC and BITC suppressed fibronectin interaction of sensitive and resistant RT112. All three isothiocyanates diminished chemotaxis in all cell lines. Integrin expression was differentially altered but CD44s and CD44v were not altered. BITC and PEITC translocated CD44s from the cell membrane to cytoplasm. The tumor suppressor E-cadherin increased, whereas focal adhesion kinase (FAK), linked to integrin signaling, was deactivated after isothiocyanate treatment. Blocking FAK, β1, β4, or β5 was associated with reduced chemotaxis. Thus, AITC, BITC, and PEITC blocked adhesion and migration in cisplatin- and gemcitabine-resistant bladder cancer cells. This was associated with altered integrin expression and signaling, CD44s translocation, and enhanced E-cadherin.
Rütz et al. (2026) studied this question.