Erucic acid increases the potency of cisplatin-induced colorectal cancer cell death and oxidative stress by upregulating the TRPM2 channel

Erucic acid (ErA) is a source of omega-9 monounsaturated fatty acids. ErA exhibited antitumor effects by causing apoptosis and oxidative stress in tumor cells, with the exception of the HT-29 human colorectal cancer cell line. The apoptotic and Ca²⁺ signaling pathways in tumor cells are triggered when mitochondrial Ca²⁺ and Zn²⁺ accumulation produce reactive free oxygen species (ROS), which in turn activate TRPM2. ErA-induced ROS and TRPM2 stimulation may augment the anticancer action of cisplatin (CSP). We aimed to study the effects of ErA and CSP incubations on ROS, apoptosis, and cell death in the HT-29 cells by activating TRPM2. The cells were divided into five groups: control, ErA (200 µM for 48 h), CSP (25 µM for 24 h), and ErA + CSP + TRPM2 antagonists (200 µM carvacrol and 25 µM N-(p-amylcinnamoyl)anthranilic acid for 24 h). The TRPM2 antagonists reduced ErA plus CSP-induced increases in H₂O₂-induced intracellular free Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_c) and adenosine diphosphate-ribose-caused TRPM2 currents. ErA and CSP were found to cause apoptosis and cell death by raising the intracellular free Zn²⁺ concentration (Zn²⁺]_c), caspase-3, −8, and −9, mitochondrial membrane dysfunction, and ROS, while lowering reduced glutathione, cell viability, and cell number. The oxidative, apoptotic, and tumor cell death effects of CSP in the cells were enhanced by the increase of ErA-mediated [Ca²⁺]_c and Zn²⁺]_c entering mitochondria through the activation of TRPM2. In conclusion, we observed that the combination of ErA and CSP was synergistic via TRPM2 activation for the treatment of HT-29 tumor cells.