LAUSR

e17503Background: Accumulating evidence has shown that overexpression of casein kinase 2 (CK2) in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (SCCHN) correlates with worsened survival. Strong expression of phosphorylated acetyl CoA carboxylase (pACC) was found to be an independent prognostic marker for patients with node-positive SCCHN. Computational analysis showed that ACC was a potential substrate for CK2, and CK2 inhibition can suppress ACC phosphorylation in non-cancer cells. CX-4945, also known as silmitasertib, is an orally administered, highly specific, ATP-competitive inhibitor of CK2 and is under clinical investigation for treating malignancies. Methods: We investigated the anticancer activity of CX-4945 in 3 aggressive SCCHN cell lines. Autophagy induction and interference with cellular metabolism were characterized. Results: CX-4945 induced autophagic cell death in SCCHN cells. CX-4945 treatment caused time- and dose-dependent lipid droplet accumulation, inhibition of ACC phosphoryl...