Selective inhibition of MDR1 P-glycoprotein-mediated transport by the acridone carboxamide derivative GG918. (33/9539)

The acridone carboxamide derivative GG918 (N-{4-[2-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-6,7-dimethoxy-2-isoquinolinyl)-ethyl]-pheny l}-9,10dihydro-5-methoxy-9-oxo-4-acridine carboxamide) is a potent inhibitor of MDR1 P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance. Direct measurements of ATP-dependent MDR1 P-glycoprotein-mediated transport in plasma membrane vesicles from human and rat hepatocyte canalicular membranes indicated 50% inhibition at GG918 concentrations between 8 nM and 80 nM using N-pentyl-[3H]quinidinium, ['4C]doxorubicin and [3H]daunorubicin as substrates. The inhibition constant K for GG918 was 35 nM in rat hepatocyte canalicular membrane vesicles with [3H]daunorubicin as the substrate. Photoaffinity labelling of canalicular and recombinant rat Mdr1b P-glycoprotein by [3H]azidopine was suppressed by 10 muM and 40 muM GG918. The high selectivity of GG918-induced inhibition was demonstrated in canalicular membrane vesicles and by analysis of the hepatobiliary elimination in rats using [3H]daunorubicin, [3H]taurocholate and [3H]cysteinyl leukotrienes as substrates for three distinct ATP-dependent export pumps. Almost complete inhibition of [3H]daunorubicin transport was observed at GG918 concentrations that did not affect the other hepatocyte canalicular export pumps. The high potency and selectivity of GG918 for the inhibition of human MDR1 and rat Mdr1b P-glycoprotein may serve to interfere with this type of multidrug resistance and provides a tool for studies on the function of these ATP-dependent transport proteins.  (+info)

Dual mechanism of daunorubicin-induced cell death in both sensitive and MDR-resistant HL-60 cells. (34/9539)

Exposure of some acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) cells to daunorubicin leads to rapid cell death, whereas other AML cells show natural drug resistance. This has been attributed to expression of functional P-glycoprotein resulting in reduced drug accumulation. However, it has also been proposed that P-glycoprotein-expressing multidrug-resistant (MDR) cells are inherently defective for apoptosis. To distinguish between these different possibilities, we have compared the cell death process in a human AML cell line (HL-60) with a MDR subline (HL-60/Vinc) at doses that yield either similar intracellular daunorubicin concentrations or comparable cytotoxicity. Adjustment of the dose to obtain the same intracellular drug accumulation in the two cell lines did not result in equal cytotoxicity, suggesting the presence of additional resistance mechanisms in the P-glycoprotein-expressing HL-60/Vinc cells. However, at equitoxic doses, similar cell death pathways were observed. In HL-60 cells, daunorubicin induced rapid apoptosis at 0.5-1 microM and delayed mitotic cell death at 0.1 microM. These concentrations are within the clinical dose range. Similarly, HL-60/Vinc cells underwent apoptosis at 50-100 microM daunorubicin and mitotic cell death at 10 microM. These results show, for the first time, that anthracyclines can induce cell death by a dual mechanism in both sensitive and MDR cells. Our results also show that not only the cytotoxicity, but also the kinetics and mechanism of cell death, are dose dependent. Interestingly, regrowth was observed only in association with delayed cell death and the formation of enlarged, often polyploid, cells with micronucleation, suggesting that morphological criteria may be useful to evaluate treatment efficacy in patients with myeloid leukaemias.  (+info)

Mechanisms of methotrexate resistance in osteosarcoma. (35/9539)

High-dose methotrexate is a major component of current protocols for the treatment of osteosarcoma, but some tumors seem to be resistant. Potential mechanisms of resistance include decreased transport through the reduced folate carrier (RFC) and increased expression of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). To investigate methotrexate resistance, tumors were obtained from 42 patients with high-grade osteosarcoma. RFC and DHFR mRNA expression were studied by semiquantitative reverse transcription-PCR. The RFC and DHFR genes were studied for deletions and amplification by Southern blot. Thirteen of 20 (65%) osteosarcoma samples were found to have decreased RFC expression at the time of initial biopsy. At definitive surgery and relapse, 10 of 22 (45%) were found to have decreased RFC expression. Seventeen of 26 (65%) samples with a poor response to chemotherapy had decreased RFC expression, whereas 5 of 14 (36%) samples with a good response had a decrease (P = 0.03). None of the samples had an RFC gene deletion. Two of 20 samples (10%) showed increased DHFR expression at initial biopsy. The frequency of increased DHFR expression was significantly higher in metastatic or recurrent tumors (62%, P = 0.014). None of the samples showed evidence of DHFR gene amplification. The high frequency of decreased RFC expression in the biopsy material suggests that impaired transport of methotrexate is a common mechanism of intrinsic resistance in osteosarcoma. Increased DHFR expression in the pulmonary metastases may be a mechanism of acquired methotrexate resistance or a difference between primary and metastatic lesions.  (+info)

Expression of p53 in cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cell lines: modulation with the novel platinum analogue (1R, 2R-diaminocyclohexane)(trans-diacetato)(dichloro)-platinum(IV). (36/9539)

The compound (1R,2R-diaminocyclohexane)(transdiacetato)(dichloro)platinum(IV) (DACH-acetato-Pt) is a novel platinum-based antitumor agent with clinical potential against cisplatin-resistant disease that is under development in our laboratory. In view of the central role of the wild-type p53 tumor suppressor gene in drug-induced apoptosis, we evaluated the cytotoxicity of cisplatin and DACH-acetato-Pt in a panel of cisplatin-resistant ovarian tumor models with differing p53 status. Cisplatin was relatively more effective against mutant or null p53 cell lines (continuous drug exposure IC50, 1.2-3.3 microM) than it was against those harboring wild-type p53 (IC50, 2.8-9.9 microM). In contrast, DACH-acetato-Pt was considerably more active in wild-type p53 models (IC50, 0.17-1.5 microM) than it was in mutant or null models (IC50, 2.7-11.3 microM). Inactivation of wild-type p53 function in OVCA-429 cells by the human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV 16) E6 plasmid increased resistance to DACH-acetato-Pt by 3-5-fold, which confirmed the drug's dependence on wild-type p53 for its high cytotoxic potency. Differences between the two platinum agents were also evident in cell cycle studies: cisplatin arrested both wild-type and mutant p53 cells in G2-M, whereas DACH-acetato-Pt arrested wild-type p53 cells in G1 and mutant p53 cells in G2-M. The G1 arrest by DACH-acetato-Pt was abrogated in HPV 16 E6 transfectant clones of OVCA-429 cells. In agreement with effects on cell cycle progression, a 2-h pulse exposure to low concentrations (< or =25 microM) of DACH-acetato-Pt induced marked increases in p53 and p21Waf1/Cip1 expression in OVCA-429 cells. Cisplatin, in direct contrast, had no effect on expression of p53 or p21Waf1/Cip1 until the drug concentration was increased to 125 microM. In HPV 16 E6 transfectants of OVCA-429 cells, induction of p53 by the two agents was severely attenuated, and corresponding increases in p21Waf1/Cip1 were abrogated. This suggests that p21Waf1/Cip1 increases were p53 dependent. Collectively, the results demonstrate that DACH-acetato-Pt is very distinct from cisplatin. In particular, the greater activity of DACH-acetato-Pt in cisplatin-resistant wild-type p53 ovarian tumor models can be ascribed to its ability to more efficiently induce p53 protein and activate p53 functions.  (+info)

Expression of multidrug resistance protein-related genes in lung cancer: correlation with drug response. (37/9539)

Recently, cDNAs have been identified that encode four human proteins (MRP2-5) with structural similarity to the multidrug resistance protein (MRP). Preliminary studies have shown that levels of mRNAs encoding MRP2, MRP3, and MRP5, are increased in some drug-selected cell lines, but the correlation of MRP2-5 mRNA levels with drug resistance has not been examined. Using a collection of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-SCLC patient samples and unselected cell lines established from patients at various stages of treatment, we examined the expression of MRP2, MRP3, MRP4, and MRP5, as well as MDR1 and MRP, by PCR. The levels of individual mRNAs were correlated with the sensitivity of these cell lines to doxorubicin (DOX), vincristine, VP-16, and cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II), as determined by a modified MTT assay. Using both SCLC and non-SCLC cell lines, we confirmed the previously observed correlation of MRP mRNA levels with resistance to DOX (B. G. Campling et al., Clin. Cancer Res., 3:115-122, 1997) and found a strong correlation of MRP3 mRNA levels with resistance of the cell lines to DOX. In addition, the mRNA levels of both MRP and MRP3 correlated with resistance of the cell lines to vincristine, VP-16, and cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II). These findings are consistent with the suggestion that MRP3, like MRP, may contribute to the drug resistance phenotype of lung cancer cells.  (+info)

The formation of DNA interstrand cross-links by a novel bis-[Pt2Cl4(diminazene aceturate)2]Cl4.4H2O complex inhibits the B to Z transition. (38/9539)

We present data demonstrating that the cytotoxic compound [Pt2Cl4(diminazene aceturate)2]Cl4.4H2O (Pt-berenil) circumvents cisplatin resistance in ovarian carcinoma cells. The analysis of the interaction of Pt-berenil with linear and supercoiled DNA indicates that this compound induces the formation of a large number of covalent interstrand cross-links on DNA and that this number is significantly higher than that produced by cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cis-DDP). Renaturation experiments, interstrand cross-link assays, and electron microscopy indicate that the kinetics of DNA interstrand cross-link formation caused by Pt-berenil binding is faster than that caused by cis-DDP at similar levels of platinum bound to DNA. Furthermore, the number of DNA interstrand cross-links in Pt-berenil-DNA complexes is influenced by supercoiling. Circular dichroism experiments show that Pt-berenil strongly inhibits the B-DNA-to-Z-DNA transition of poly(dG-m5 dC). poly(dG-m5dC) at salt concentrations (3 mM MgCl2) at which the native methylated polynucleotide readily adopts the Z-DNA conformation, which suggests that the induction of interstrand cross-links by Pt-berenil inhibits the Z-DNA transition. On the basis of these results, we propose that bis(platinum) compounds with structure similar to Pt-berenil may act as blockers of DNA conformational changes and may also display activity in cisplatin-resistant cells.  (+info)

Impaired membrane transport in methotrexate-resistant CCRF-CEM cells involves early translation termination and increased turnover of a mutant reduced folate carrier. (39/9539)

The basis for impaired reduced folate carrier (RFC) activity in methotrexate-resistant CCRF-CEM (CEM/Mtx-1) cells was examined. Parental and CEM/Mtx-1 cells expressed identical levels of the 3. 1-kilobase RFC transcript. A approximately 85-kDa RFC protein was detected in parental cells by photoaffinity labeling and on Western blots with RFC-specific antiserum. In CEM/Mtx-1 cells, RFC protein was undetectable. By reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis, G to A point mutations were identified in CEM/Mtx-1 transcripts at positions 130 (P1; changes glycine 44 --> arginine) and 380 (P2; changes serine 127 --> asparagine). A 4-base pair (CATG) insertion detected at position 191 (in 19-30% of cDNA clones) resulted in a frameshift and early translation termination. Wild-type RFC was also detected (0-9% of clones). Wild-type RFC and double-mutated RFC (RFCP1+P2) cDNAs were transfected into transport-impaired K562 and Chinese hamster ovary cells. Although RFC transcripts paralleled wild-type protein, for the RFCP1+P2 transfectants, disproportionately low RFCP1+P2 protein was detected. This reflected an increased turnover of RFCP1+P2 over wild-type RFC. RFCP1+P2 did not restore methotrexate transport; however, uptake was partially restored by constructs with single mutations at the P1 or P2 loci. Cumulatively, our results show that loss of transport function in CEM/Mtx-1 cells results from complete loss of RFC protein due to early translation termination and increased turnover of a mutant RFC protein.  (+info)

Influence of O6-benzylguanine on the anti-tumour activity and normal tissue toxicity of 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea and molecular combinations of 5-fluorouracil and 2-chloroethyl-1-nitrosourea in mice. (40/9539)

Previous studies have demonstrated that novel molecular combinations of 5-fluorouracil (5FU) and 2-chloroethyl-1-nitrosourea (CNU) have good preclinical activity and may exert less myelotoxicity than the clinically used nitrosoureas such as 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU). This study examined the effect of O6-alkylguanine-DNA-alkyltransferase (ATase) depletion by the pseudosubstrate O6-benzylguanine (BG) on the anti-tumour activity and normal tissue toxicity in mice of three such molecular combinations, in comparison with BCNU. When used as single agents at their maximum tolerated dose, all three novel compounds produced a significant growth retardation of BCNU-resistant murine colon and human breast xenografts. This in vivo anti-tumour effect was potentiated by BG, but was accompanied by severe myelotoxicity as judged by spleen colony forming assays. However, while tumour resistance to BCNU was overcome using BG, this was at the expense of enhanced bone marrow, gut and liver toxicity. Therefore, although this ATase-depletion approach resulted in improved anti-tumour activity for all three 5-FU:CNU molecular combinations, the potentiated toxicities in already dose-limiting tissues indicate that these types of agents offer no therapeutic advantage over BCNU when they are used together with BG.  (+info)