Adriamycin In Cells Research Articles

MCF-7/ADR cells (re-designated NCI/ADR-RES) are not derived from MCF-7 breast cancer cells: a loss for breast cancer multidrug-resistant research

MCF-7/ADR cells have been widely used as a multidrug-resistant breast cancer cell model in cancer research. The origin of MCF-7/ADR has been a matter of debate since MCF-7/ADR cells were re-designated NCI/ADR-RES in 1998. Many recent studies still describe MCF-7/ADR cells as originating from the breast cancer cell line MCF-7. Thus, the real origin of MCF-7/ADR cells remains more unclear. In this study, a new adriamycin (ADR)-resistant cell line MCF-7/ADR' was reproduced using the same procedure employed during the initial establishment of MCF-7/ADR. Since the MCF-7/ADR' cell line was definitely derived from parental MCF-7 cells, we were able to directly compare these cell lines together with MCF-7/ADR using immunocytochemical, morphological, and consecutive DNA fingerprinting analyses to determine the true origin of MCF-7/ADR. Both ADR-resistant cell lines displayed some similar phenotypic characteristics, such as high levels of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression, increased vacuolation, abundant filamentous material, and irregular pseudopodia. With increasing concentrations of ADR, the DNA fingerprints of MCF-7/ADR' cells were always identical to the parental MCF-7 cells. However, the DNA fingerprints of MCF-7/ADR cells did not relate to MCF-7 or MCF-7/ADR'. MCF-7/ADR and the breast cancer cell line MCF-7 are not of the same origin. Long-time culture in the presence of ADR does not cause significant changes in DNA fingerprint patterns.

Reversal of multidrug resistance by reduction-sensitive linear cationic click polymer/iMDR1-pDNA complex nanoparticles

A reduction-sensitive linear cationic click polymer (RCP) was specially designed for the efficient gene delivery to overcome multidrug resistance (MDR) by RNA interference to silence the expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp). RCP was synthesized via the “click chemistry” with disulfide bonds, amide–triazole moieties and secondary amine groups in the main chain. RCP could efficiently condense pDNA into nanoparticles (RCPNs) around 150 nm. Polyplex dissociation was observed in the presence of 2.5 m m DTT due to the cleavage of disulfide bonds, which indicated the efficient DNA release under the reduction condition. In vitro transfection and cytotoxicity experiments against human breast cancer MCF-7 cells and drug-resistant MCF-7/ADR cells showed that RCPNs could bring about higher transfection efficiency with much lower cytotoxicity than PEI/DNA nanoparticles. RCPNs loaded with plasmid iMDR1-pDNA could inhibit P-gp expression, increase adriamycin (ADR) accumulation and enhance cytotoxicity of ADR against MCF-7/ADR cells. Combination of RCPNs and ADR could suppress the tumor growth more efficiently than using ADR only on mouse xenograft model bearing ADR resistant human breast cancer. These results suggested that this RCP could be a potential, safe and efficient non-viral vector for reversing MDR.

Reversal effect of mifepristone on adriamycin resistance in human breast cancer cell line MCF-7/ADM in vitro and in vivo

To explore the reversal effect of mifepristone(MIF) on adriamycin(ADM) resistance in human breast cell line MCF-7/ADM in vitro and in vivo. The transplantable models of MCF-7 cells resisting against adriamycin were established in nude mice by subcutaneous implantation to observe the reversal effect of MIF in vivo. The mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: a control group(treated with saline water 0.2 mL intraperitoneally and edible oil 0.5 mL orally), an MIF group (treated with mifepristone 30 mg/kg orally and saline water 0.2 mL intraperitoneally), an ADM group (treated with adriamycin 5 mg/kg intraperitoneally and edible oil 0.5 mL orally) and an ADM+MIF group (treated with ADM 5mg/kg intraperitoneally and mifepristone 30 mg/kg orally every 3 days). Tumor changes were investigated after different drug treatments. The reversal effect of 5 micromol/L MIF in vitro on the ADM resistance cell line MCF-7/ADM and non ADM resistance cell line MCF-7 was determined by 4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl (MTT) assay. (1) The inhibitory rate of 5 micromol/L of MIF for both cell lines MCF-7 and MCF-7/ADM was less than 5%, and it had no statistical difference compared with the group that was not treated with MIF(P > 0.05). (2) ADM could inhibit the growth of both MCF-7 and MCF-7/ADM,but the inhibition concentration 50 (IC(50)) of MCF-7 (0.42 mg/L) was obviously less than that of MCF-7/ADM(17.21 mg/L) (P < 0.05). (3) IC(50) of MCF-7/ADM of MIF+ADM group was 1.96 mg/L in vitro, which was significantly less than that in ADM alone group(17.21 mg/L) (P < 0.05), and 5 micromol/L of MIF reversed ADM resistance with fold-reversal of 8.78. (4) MIF had some effect on the inhibition of MCF-7/ADM cell growth in vivo, the xenograft volume in the MIF+ADM group [(232.5149 +/- 309.2377) mm(3)] was significantly smaller than that in the control group[(962.2309 +/- 261.1313) mm(3) ] after the 4 week treatment(P<0.05), and also smaller than that in the MIF group [(778.2846 +/- 42.6919) mm(3)] and in the ADM group [(508.9648 +/- 16.2609) mm(3)](P < 0.05). There was significant inhibition on xenograft weight after MIF combined with ADM treatment in vivo, and the inhibitory rate was 78.0%. MIF can effectively reverse ADM resistance in human breast cancer cell line MCF-7/ADM both in vitro and in vivo.

RUNX3 Modulates DNA Damage-mediated Phosphorylation of Tumor Suppressor p53 at Ser-15 and Acts as a Co-activator for p53

Although it has been shown that the gastric tumor suppressor RUNX3 has a growth inhibitory activity, the precise molecular mechanisms behind RUNX3-mediated tumor suppression remained unclear. In this study, we found that RUNX3 is closely involved in DNA damage-dependent phosphorylation of tumor suppressor p53 at Ser-15 and acts as a co-activator for p53. The small interference RNA-mediated knockdown of RUNX3 inhibited adriamycin (ADR)-dependent apoptosis in p53-proficient cells but not in p53-deficient cells in association with a significant reduction of p53-target gene expression as well as phosphorylation of p53 at Ser-15. In response to ADR, RUNX3 was induced to accumulate in the cell nucleus and co-localized with p53. Immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated that RUNX3 forms a complex with p53 in cells. In vitro pulldown assays revealed that the COOH-terminal portion of p53 is required for the interaction with RUNX3. Forced expression of RUNX3 enhanced p53-mediated transcriptional activation. Additionally, RUNX3 had an ability to induce the phosphorylation of p53 at Ser-15, thereby promoting p53-dependent apoptosis. Intriguingly, RUNX3 interacted with phosphorylated forms of ataxia telangiectasia-mutated in response to ADR; however, it did not affect the extent of DNA damage. From the clinical point of view, coordinated p53 mutation and decreased expression of RUNX3 in 105 human lung adenocarcinomas were significantly associated with the poor outcome of patients (p = 0.0203). Thus, our present results strongly suggest that RUNX3 acts as a novel co-activator for p53 through regulating its DNA damage-induced phosphorylation at Ser-15 and also provide a clue to understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying RUNX3-mediated tumor suppression.

Survivin transcription is associated with P-glycoprotein/MDR1 overexpression in the multidrug resistance of MCF-7 breast cancer cells

Breast carcinoma is the most common malignancy in women. The progression of tumor is associated with overexpression of inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) such as survivin and multidrug resistant P-glycoprotein (P-gp). PI3K/Akt pathway is involved in cell cycle progression, apoptosis and neoplastic transformation. PI3K/Akt has been shown to regulate survivin in breast cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of survivin and P-gp, the modulation of survivin by P-gp in PI3K/Akt during the progression of drug resistance (MDR) in MCF-7 breast cancer cells and adriamycin (ADR)-resistant MCF-7/ADR cells. The expression of survivin and P-gp in MCF-7/ADR cells were higher than that of the MCF-7 cells using RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. Survivin transcription was associated with P-glycoprotein/MDR1 overexpression using promoter activity analysis. LY294002, specific inhibitor of PI3K could suppress survivin and P-gp expression, decreased survivin promoter activity and enhanced cell sensitivity to drugs. This study shows survivin transcription was associated with P-glycoprotein/MDR1 overexpression, PI3k/Akt pathway was involved in P-glycoprotein/MDR1 associated survivin transcription activity in the multidrug resistant MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

The growth-inhibition effect of tamoxifen in the combination chemotherapeutics on the human cholangiocarcinoma cell line QBC939

In the individual application of adriamycin, mitomycin, vindesine and their combined application with tamoxifen for the pre-treatment of the human cholangiocarcinoma cell line QBC939, QBC939 was determined by MTT assay to investigate the inhibitive effect and its initial mechanism of TAM on cell growth. Growth cycle and apoptosis of each group were determined by flow cytometry. Concentration of ADM in QBC939 was detected by flow cytometry. The levels of their P-glycoprotein were detected by immunohistochemistry. The mRNA and protein levels of apoptotic-associated genes Bcl-2 and Bax were determined by western blot and real-time PCR. The inhibitive rates of adriamycin, mitomycin, vindesine to QBC939 and the apoptosis rates of QBC939 were enhanced after the pre-treatment of tamoxifen. Influence of tamoxifen in their growth cycle was not so obvious except vindesine group because of the increasing cell numbers of G (2)/M phase in which cells may be blocked. The contents of adriamycin in cells rose after the pre-treatment of tamoxifen. Expression level of the multi-drug resistant protein on cell surface was shown as (+). Furthermore, real-time PCR and Western blot analysis revealed an upregulation of Bcl-2 and a downregulation of Bax in QBC939 after the pre-treatment of tamoxifen. Therefore, tamoxifen may have the ability to enhance the relative sensitivity of QBC939 to chemotherapeutics.

Synergic effect of Na+-K+ ATPaseB1 and adriamycin on inhibition of cell proliferation and reversal of drug resistance in breast cancer MCF-7 cells

Na(+)-K(+)ATPase (Na(+)-K(+) pump) is an important cell energy conversion system which is probably associated with tumor metastasis. Expression of its B1 subunit gene-ATP1B1 is high in well differentiated and low in poorly differentiated tumor cells. This study was to investigate the synergic effect of Na(+)-K(+) ATPaseB1 and adriamycin (ADM) on inhibition of cell proliferation and reversal of drug resistance in MCF-7 and MCF-7/ADM cells. Growth of MCF-7 and MCF-7/ADM cells transfected with PEGFP-ATP1B1 and shATP1B1 were measured by MTT. Intracellular fluorescence intensity of ADM was analyzed by inverted fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. ATP enzyme activity was measured by ultramicro-ATP enzyme, and mRNA expression of multi-drug resistance gene MDR1 was detected by RT-PCR and real-time PCR. The expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) was analyzed by western blot. The sensitivity of MCF-7 and MCF-7/ADM cells transfected with pEGFP-ATP1B1 to ADM was higher in comparing to the negative control ADM-C3 (transfected with vector pEGFP-C3) and the control ADM-RPMI-1640 (cultured with RPMI-1640), and the differences between ADM-ATP1B1 and ADM-RPMI-1640 groups were statistically significant at different concentrations of adriamycin (P<0.05). After the B1 subunit was silenced, the sensitivity of cells to ADM in the ADM-shNC group was higher than that in the shATP and ADM-RPMI-1640 groups. The mean fluorescence intensity of ADM in the ADM-ATP1B1 group was higher than that in the ADM-C3 and ADM-RPMI-1640 groups (P<0.05). ATP enzyme activity was significantly higher in ADM-ATP1B1 group comparing to the ADM-RPMI-1640 group (P<0.05). mRNA expression of MDR1 gene and protein expression of P-gp were not significantly different among the ADM-ATP1B1 group and two control groups (P>0.05). Na(+)-K(+) ATPase B1 can synergize with ADM and reverse drug resistance to ADM in the MCF-7/ADM cell line. This may be related to ATP enzyme activity, but not to influencing the expression of MDR1 gene.

Adriamycin sensitizes adriamycin-resistant HL-60/ADR cells to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis

Objective To study whether an adriamycin-resistant cell line (HL-60/ADR) can be sensitized by adriamycin (ADR) to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis.

Experimental study of adenovirus-mediated p53 gene on the reversal of multidrug resistance in breast cancer

To explore the effects of adenovirus-mediated wild-type p53 gene (Ad-p53) on the reversal of multidrug resistance (MDR) and multidrug resistance gene-1 (MDR1) in adriamycin (ADM) resistant human breast cancer cell. Ad-p53 was transfected into the human breast cancer cells of the line MCF-7/ADM. p53 protein expression was detected by flow cytometry (FCM). The cell proliferation was assessed by trypan blue dye exclusion. The effects of Ad-p53 on ADM mediated drug resistance were observed by MTT assay. The expression levels of MDR1 mRNA were detected with real-time RT-PCR. The expression rate of p53 protein of the MCF-7/ADM cell was increased from 10.24% to 36.20% after transfected by MOI(50) Ad-p53 for 48 hours. The growth inhibition rate was 7.4 % (P = 0.003). The chemosensitivity of MCF-7/ADM to ADM increased by 11.6 times (P = 0.001). The result of real-time RT-PCR reveales that MDR1 mRNA was decreased from 1.25 +/- 0.01 to 0.91 +/- 0.01 (P = 0.011) after the MCF-7/ADM cells were transfected by Ad-p53. Ad-p53 can inhibit the expression of MDR1 gene and partially reverse the MDR of MCF-7/ADM cells, thus enhancing the chemosensitivity of human breast cancer cells to ADM.

ZD6474 reverses multidrug resistance by directly inhibiting the function of P-glycoprotein

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) pumps multiple types of drugs out of the cell, using energy generated from ATP, and confers multidrug resistance (MDR) on cancer cells. ZD6474 is an orally active, selective inhibitor of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, epidermal growth factor receptor, and rearranged during transfection tyrosine kinases. This study was designed to examine whether ZD6474 reverses P-gp-mediated MDR in cancer cells. Here, we show that clinically achievable levels of ZD6474 reverse P-gp-mediated MDR of the P-gp-overexpressing cell lines derived from breast cancer, MCF-7/adriamycin (ADR), and human oral epidermoid carcinoma, KBV200 to ADR, docetaxel, and vinorelbine. This ability to reverse the P-gp-mediated resistance is comparable to that of another frequently used reversal agent known as verapamil. ZD6474 itself moderately inhibits the proliferation of both MCF-7 and MCF-7/ADR cells with almost equal activity, but its inhibitory effect is not altered by co-incubation with verapamil, suggesting that ZD6474 may not be a substrate of P-gp. In addition, ZD6474 increases the intracellular accumulation of the P-gp substrate, rhodamine-123, and ADR, by enhancing the uptake and/or decreasing the efflux of these compounds in resistant cells. Further studies show that ZD6474 stimulates ATPase activity in a dose-dependent manner, which is required for the proper function of P-gp. In contrast, ZD6474 does not inhibit the expression level of P-gp. Our results suggest that ZD6474 is capable of reversing MDR in cancer cells by directly inhibiting the function of P-gp, a finding that may have clinical implications for ZD6474.

Reversal of Multidrug Resistance by Neferine in Adriamycin Resistant Human Breast Cancer Cell Line MCF-7/ADM

Objective: To study the reversal effect of neferine on adriamycin (ADM) resistant human breast cancer cell line MCF-7/ADM. Methods: The cytotoxic effect of Nef or ADM was determined by 3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2.-yl], 5-diphenyl tetraxolium bromid (MTT) assay. Apoptosis and the expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) were detected by flow cytometry (FCM). The intracellular ADM concentration was measured by HPLC. Results: Nef at 1, 5, 10 μmol/L decreased the IC50 of ADM to MCF-7/ADM from 11.63 μg/mL to 4.59, 2.44, 0.27 μg/mL respectively. MCF-7/ADM could resist the apoptosis induced by ADM while Nef (1-10 μmol/L) could augment ADR-mediated apoptosis. Nef (10 μmol/L) increased the accumulation of ADM up to 2.88 fold in MCF-7/ADM but not in sensitive cells MCF-7/S and reduced the expression of P-gp in MCF-7/ADM cells. Conclusion: Nef can circumvent multidrug resistance (MDR) of MCF-7/ADM cells and the mechanism was associated with the increase of intracellular accumulation of ADM and the reduced expression of P-gp in MCF-7/ADM cells.

Increase of ceramide in adriamycin-induced HL-60 cell apoptosis: detection by a novel anti-ceramide antibody

We recently raised an IgM class of monoclonal antibody (Ab) for ceramide (NHCER-2), and examined its specificity and sensitivity. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and thin-layer chromatography (TLC) showed that NHCER-2 recognized ceramides but not other sphingolipids such as sphingosine, sphinganine, sphingomyelin, sphingosine-1-phosphate, ceramide-1-phosphate, glucosylceramide and cerebroside. In addition, N-hexanoyl, N-octanoyl and N-palmitoylsphingosine were detected by NHCER-2, but N-acetylsphingosine and dihydroceramide were not. Densities of ceramide detected by NHCER-2 were proportional to the amounts of ceramide standard up to 250 ng. When various concentrations of adriamycin (ADR) was added to induce apoptosis, the amounts of ceramide detected by NHCER-2 time- and dose-dependently increased in apoptosis-sensitive HL-60 cells as well as by DGK assay, but not in apoptosis-resistant HL-60/ADR cells. After cell fractionation, ceramide levels judged not only by diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) assay but also by NHCER-2 were shown to increase in the microsomal and the nuclear fraction in apoptosis-sensitive cells, but not in apoptosis-resistant cells. Moreover, absolute amounts of ceramide determined by NHCER-2 were well correlated with those by DGK assay. These results suggest that increase of ceramide in the nuclear fraction as well as in the microsomal fraction may play a role in ADR-induced apoptosis and that a novel anti-ceramide Ab NHCER-2 could be beneficial to investigate changes of ceramide content in the cells.

A new quinoline derivative MS-209 reverses multidrug resistance and inhibits multiorgan metastases by P-glycoprotein-expressing human small cell lung cancer cells.

Development of distant metastases and acquired multidrug resistance (MDR) are major problems in therapy for human small cell lung cancer (SCLC). MS‐209 is a novel quinoline compound, which reverses P‐glycoprotein (P‐gp)‐mediated MDR. We previously reported that MS‐209 reversed in vitro MDR of human SCLC (SBC‐3/ADM and H69/VP) cells expressing P‐gp. In the present study, we determined the therapeutic effect of MS‐209 in combination with chemotherapy against multiorgan metastases of MDR SCLC cells. SBC‐3/ADM cells expressing P‐gp were highly resistant to etoposide (VP‐16), adriamycin (ADM), and vincristine (VCR) in vitro, compared with parental SBC‐3 cells lacking P‐gp expression. MS‐209 restored chemosensitivity of SBC‐3/ADM cells to VP‐16, ADM, and VCR in a dose‐dependent manner in vitro. Intravenous injection with SBC‐3 or SBC‐3/ADM cells produced metastatic colonies in the liver, kidneys and lymph nodes in natural killer (NK) cell‐depleted severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice, though SBC‐3/ ADM cells more rapidly produced metastases than did SBC‐3 cells. Treatment with VP‐16 and ADM reduced metastasis formation by SBC‐3 cells, whereas the same treatment did not affect metastasis by SBC‐3/ADM cells. Although MS‐209 alone had no effect on metastasis by SBC‐3 or SBC‐3/ADM cells, combined use of MS‐209 with VP‐16 or ADM resulted in marked inhibition of metastasis formation by SBC‐3/ADM cells to multiple organs. These findings suggest that MS‐209 reversed the MDR of SBC‐3/ADM cells, but not SBC‐3 cells, growing in the various organs, and inhibited metastasis formation in vivo. Therefore, this chemosensitizing agent, MS‐209, may be useful for treatment of refractory SCLC patients with multiorgan metastases.

Reversal effects of nomegestrol acetate on multidrug resistance in adriamycin-resistant MCF7 breast cancer cell line.

Chemotherapy is important in the systematic treatment of breast cancer. To enhance the response of tumours to chemotherapy, attention has been focused on agents to reverse multidrug resistance (MDR) and on the sensitivity of tumour cells to chemical drugs. Hundreds of reversal drugs have been found in vitro, but their clinical application has been limited because of their toxicity. The reversal activity of progestogen compounds has been demonstrated. However, classical agents such as progesterone and megestrol (MG) also have high toxicity. Nomegestrol (NOM) belongs to a new derivation of progestogens and shows very low toxicity. We studied the reversal activity of NOM and compared it with that of verapamil (VRP), droloxifene (DRO), tamoxifen (TAM) and MG, and investigated the reversal mechanism, i.e. effects on the expression of the MDR1, glutathione S-transferase Pi (GSTpi), MDR-related protein (MRP) and topoisomerase IIalpha (TopoIIalpha) genes, as well as the intracellular drug concentration and the cell cycle. The aim of the study was to examine the reversal effects of NOM on MDR in MCF7/ADR, an MCF7 breast cancer cell line resistant to adriamycin (ADR), and its mechanism of action. MCF7/ADR cells and MCF7/WT, an MCF7 breast cancer cell line sensitive to ADR, were treated with NOM as the acetate ester. With an assay based on a tetrazolium dye [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide; MTT], the effects of various concentrations of NOM on MDR in MCF7/ADR cells were studied. Before and after the treatment with 5 microM NOM, the expression of the MDR-related genes MDR1, GSTpi, TopoIIalpha and MRP were assayed with a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) immunocytochemistry assay. By using flow cytometry (FCM), we observed the intracellular ADR concentration and the effects of combined treatment with NOM and ADR on the cell cycle. Results collected were analysed with Student's t test. NOM significantly reversed MDR in MCF7/ADR cells. After treatment NOM at 20, 10 and 5 microM, chemosensitivity to ADR increased 21-fold, 12-fold and 8-fold, respectively. The reversal activity of NOM was stronger than that of the precursor compound MG, and comparable to that of VRP. After treatment with 5 microM NOM, the expression of both the MDR1 and the GSTpi mRNA genes began to decline on the second day (P <0.05 and P <0.01, respectively), and reached the lowest level on the third day (both P <0.01); however, on the fifth day the expression levels began to increase again (both P <0.05). The expression of MRP and TopoIIalpha had no significant changes. Changes in the expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and GSTpi were similar to those of their mRNA expressions, showing early declines and late increases. Two hours after treatment with 20, 10 and 5 microM NOM, the intracellular ADR concentration increased 2.7-fold, 2.3-fold and 1.5-fold respectively. However, NOM did not increase ADR accumulation in MCF7/WT cells. FCM data showed that after 48 h of combined administration of NOM (20 microM) and ADR (from low to high concentration), MCF7/ADR cells showed a gradual arrest at the G2M phase with increasing ADR dose. The arrest effect with combined drug treatment was stronger than that with the single ADR treatment. MDR is the major mechanism of drug resistance in malignant tumour cells. To overcome MDR and to increase chemosensitivity, many reversal agents have been found. Most progestogen compounds have been demonstrated to have reversal effects, but we found no data on NOM, a new progestogen compound. Our results show that NOM has strong reversal activity. The reversal effects were stronger than those of the precursor compound, MG, and were comparable to that of VRP. Because NOM has low toxicity, it might have good prospects in clinical application. Using RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry assays, we studied the effects of NOM on MDR-related genes. The results were that NOM could markedly downregulate the mRNA and protein expression levels of MDR1 and GSTpi. TopoIIalpha and MRP gene expression showed no significant changes. It is known that P-gp induces MDR in tumour cells mainly by decreasing the intracellular drug concentration. After treatment with NOM, the intracellular drug concentration in MCF7/ADR cells increased significantly. Combined treatment with NOM and ADR induced arrest at the G2M phase. It is worth noting that NOM caused an early decrease and a late increase in the expression of some MDR-related genes in a time-dependent manner. The phenomena raise a question for the continued administration of reversal agents in clinics that merits further study. We demonstrate that NOM has strong reversal effects on MDR in MCF7/ADR cells. The reversal is via different routes, namely downregulating the mRNA and protein expression levels of MDR1 and GSTpi, increasing intracellular drug concentration and arresting cells at the G2M phase (NOM in combination with ADR). The reversal mechanism needs further study.

Molecular analysis of multidrug resistance in feline lymphoma cells.

To evaluate the mechanism of multidrug resistance in feline lymphoma cell lines. A feline lymphoma cell line (FT-1) and its adriamycin (ADM)-resistant subline (FT-1/ADM). The FT-1 cell line was cultivated in the presence of a gradually increasing concentration of ADM to generate its ADM-resistant subline (FT-1/ADM). Susceptibility of cells from the parental FT-1 cell line and the FT-1/ADM subline to antineoplastic drugs was determined. From the complementary DNA (cDNA) template of FT-1/ADM cells, feline MDR1 cDNA was amplified by use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequenced. Reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and Western blot analyses were performed to assess expression of the MDR1 gene and P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in FT-1/ADM cells, compared with that in FT-1 cells. A drug sensitivity assay revealed that FT-1/ADM cells were much more resistant to ADM and vincristine than the parental FT-1 cells. The feline MDR7 cDNA amplified by use of PCR was 3,489 base pairs long, corresponding to approximately 90% of the whole open reading frame of human MDR1 cDNA; its amino acid sequence was 91.5, 87.0, and 79.4% identical to that of human MDR1, mouse mdr1a, and mdr1b cDNA, respectively. By RT-PCR analysis, expression of MDR1 messenger RNA was clearly detected in FT-1/ADM cells but not in the parental FT-1 cells. Western blot analysis also revealed the expression of P-gp encoded by the MDR1 gene in FT-1/ADM cells but not in FT-1 cells. The basic structure of the feline MDR1 gene was essentially the same as that of multidrug-resistance genes of other species. Expression of P-gp appeared to be one of the mechanisms responsible for the development of multidrug resistance in feline lymphoma cell lines in vitro.

Bcl-2 inhibits mitochondrial metabolism and lonidamine-induced apoptosis in adriamycin-resistant MCF7 cells.

Lonidamine (LND), a selective inhibitor of the energy metabolism of tumor cells, induces apoptosis, independently of the p53 gene, in the adriamycin(ADR)-resistant MCF7 breast-cancer cell line (MCF7 ADR). On the contrary, LND fails to activate the apoptotic program in the parental MCF7-sensitive cell line (MCF7 WT). The extent of bcl-2 expression might account for the different effect of LND on these cell lines. In fact, the MCF7 ADR line shows a low level of bcl-2 protein, whereas MCF7 WT expresses a high level of bcl-2. We therefore investigated the relationship between the amount of bcl-2 and the ability of LND to induce apoptosis, using 4 clones over-expressing bcl-2. The effect of bcl-2 on the energy metabolism was also evaluated. We demonstrated that over-expression of bcl-2 inhibited LND-induced apoptosis, while reducing 14CO2 production, oxygen uptake and ATP content, whereas aerobic lactate production was essentially unaffected. In addition, LND decreased the oxidative metabolism of the MCF7 ADR cells to a greater extent than it did in the bcl-2 transfectants.

Circumvention of multidrug resistance by a quinoline derivative, MS-209, in multidrug-resistant human small-cell lung cancer cells and its synergistic interaction with cyclosporin A or verapamil.

To develop a clinically useful approach to circumvent P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-mediated multidrug resistance (MDR) in MDR human small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), we examined the ability of a novel quinoline compound, MS-209, to reverse MDR by inhibition of P-gp function in combination with other MDR-reversing drugs using a cytotoxicity assay. We established MDR human SCLC cells by culture in medium with gradually increasing concentrations of adriamycin (ADM). Compared with the parental human SCLC cells, SBC-3, the MDR variant SBC-3 cells obtained (SBC-3/ADM) were highly resistant to various chemotherapeutic agents due to P-gp expression. MS-209 reversed the resistance to ADM and vincristine (VCR) of SBC-3/ADM and H69/VP cells in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, MS-209 in combination with cyclosporin A (CsA) or verapamil (VER) synergistically enhanced the antitumor effects of ADM and VCR on SBC-3/ADM cells. MS-209 restored ADM incorporation and this effect was enhanced by CsA and VER, suggesting that these synergistic effects were due to competitive inhibition of P-gp function. MS-209 in combination with CsA or VER might increase the efficacy of these chemotherapeutic agents against MDR human SCLC cells.

Effects of 1,2-naphthoquinones on human tumor cell growth and lack of cross-resistance with other anticancer agents.

The sensitivity of human tumor and rat prostate tumor cells to a series of naphthoquinones, including tricyclic compounds of the beta-lapachone and dunnione families as well as 4-alkoxy-1,2-naphthoquinones, was evaluated. To better understand the mechanism of cytotoxicity of 1,2-naphthoquinones, the roles of various resistance mechanisms including P-glycoprotein, multidrug resistant associated protein, glutathione (GSH) and related enzymes, altered topoisomerase activity, and overexpression of genes that control apoptosis (bcl-2 and bc-xL) were studied. MCF7 cells were most sensitive to the naphthoquinones with IC50 values ranging from 1.1 to 10.8 microM, as compared to 2.5 to >32 microM for HT29 human colon, A549 human lung, CEM leukemia and AT3.1 rat prostate cancer cells. MCF7 ADR cells, selected for resistance to adriamycin (ADR), displayed cross-resistance to the tricyclic 1,2-naphthoquinones. Drug efflux via a P-glycoprotein mechanism was ruled out as a mechanism of resistance to 1,2-naphthoquinones, since KB-V1 cells expressing high levels of P-glycoprotein and the KB-3.1 parent line were equally sensitive to these compounds. Any resistance of the tricyclic naphthoquinones noted in ADR-resistant cells appeared to relate to the GSH redox cycle and could be circumvented by exposure to buthionine sulfoximine or by changing the structure from a tricyclic derivative to a 4-alkoxy-1,2-naphthoquinone. The 1,2-naphthoquinones were found to be cytotoxic against CEM/VM-1 and CEM/M70-B1 cells that were selected for resistance to teniposide or merbarone, respectively. In addition, cells overexpressing bcl-2 or bcl-xL proteins were as sensitive to 1,2-naphthoquinones as were control cells. Because of their effectiveness in drug-resistant cells, these agents appear to hold promise as effective chemotherapeutic agents.

Studies on adaptation to adriamycin in cells pretreated with hydrogen peroxide

Various investigations have reported the occurrence in bacterial and mammalian cells of an adaptive response to the toxic effects of oxidants or agents that cause oxidation via redox reactions. In our previous study, it was shown that several cell lines pretreated with a low dose of hydrogen peroxide (H 2O 2) exhibited an adaptive response to subsequent high doses of adriamycin (ADR), whereas other cell lines did not. Based on the observation that the cell lines utilized differed in their sensitivity towards adriamycin, we undertook the present investigation with the goal of evaluating possible relationships between the levels of antioxidant enzymes and sensitivity towards adriamycin. Another aim was to determine relationships between the inducibility of these enzymes and the occurrence of adaptation. We utilized African Green monkey kidney (V 3), human embryo (CLV98), human melanoma (ME18), and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines and experimentally developed adriamycin-resistant human melanoma (ME18/R N) and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO/R N) cell sublines. Cytotoxicity was measured by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay and trypan blue exclusion. The levels of catalase (CAT), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were determined in the same kind of experiment as that revealing the occurrence of adaptation. The rank order established for catalase activities was similar to that for sensitivity towards adriamycin. Aberrant increases in the tested enzymes were demonstrated in experimental groups of all kinds of cells. We conclude that in our cell systems catalase is a major determinant of adriamycin resistance. Whether the occurrence of the adaptive response under study is dependent on the contribution of catalase, itself. dependent on the degree of resistance to the drug, is discussed.

Effect of tamoxifen on mitoxantrone cytotoxicity in drug-sensitive and multidrug-resistant MCF-7 cells.

The influence of the antiestrogen tamoxifen (TAM) on the activity of mitoxantrone (MXN), was evaluated against wild-type MCF-7/WT and their multidrug-resistant variant MCF-7/ADR cells. Multidrug resistance (MDR) in this cell line which was selected for resistance to Adriamycin (ADR), is associated with increased expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp). In a clonogenic assay it was observed that TAM (1-10 microM) significantly enhanced the activity of MXN in the MCF-7/ADR but not in the drug-sensitive cell line. Isobologram analysis indicated that the effect of the combination was additive in the parental MCF-7/WT cells and strongly synergistic in the MDR MCF-7/ADR cells. Also, TAM (10 microM) caused a three-fold increase in the steady-state levels (Css) of MXN in MCF-7/ADR cells but did not modulate MXN levels in MCF-7/WT cells. The observed synergism in MCF-7/ADR cells was perhaps due to the increase in Css of MXN that may involve interaction of TAM with P-gp. The combination of MXN and TAM may be useful in the treatment of drug-sensitive and drug-resistant breast cancer.