Overcoming Multidrug Resistance in Human Carcinoma Cells by an Antisense Oligodeoxynucleotide−Doxorubicin Conjugate in Vitro and in Vivo

Abstract

Multidrug resistance (MDR), a major obstacle to successful cancer chemotherapy, may be induced by amplification of the MDR1 gene and overexpression of the P-glycoprotein (P-gp), which acts as drug efflux pump decreasing intracellular drug accumulation. In this study, an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide--doxorubicin conjugate was used to overcome MDR in a human carcinoma-resistant cell line, both in vitro and in vivo, through downregulation of P-gp expression and mRNA levels. Compared with the unmodified antisense-oligodeoxynucleotide (AS-ODN), the conjugate markedly inhibited P-gp expression and mRNA levels. With in vitro treatment with the conjugate, the intracellular accumulation of doxorubicin (DOX) was increased 4.4-fold compared to treatment with DOX alone; by contrast, a 2.2-fold increase was observed when treated with AS-ODN alone. In the in vivo studies, it was approximately 3.5-fold higher compared to the control group treatment with DOX alone and 2.1-fold higher than found with AS-ODN. The weight of tumors formed was markedly decreased after conjugate treatment as compared to either treatments with AS-ODN or DOX alone. Furthermore, treatment with combinations of the agents appeared to be well tolerated. These results suggest that a strategy using the conjugate in combination with antitumor drugs may comprise a powerful treatment for MDR.