VCR-resistant Cells Research Articles

Up-regulation of GLI1 in vincristine-resistant rhabdomyosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma

BackgroundThe clinical significance of GLI1 expression either through canonical Hedgehog signal transduction or through non-canonical mechanisms in rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) or Ewing sarcoma (EWS) is incompletely understood. We tested a role for Hedgehog (HH) signal transduction and GL11 expression in development of vincristine (VCR) resistance in RMS and EWS.MethodsWe characterized baseline expression and activity of HH pathway components in 5 RMS (RD, Rh18, Ruch-2, Rh30, and Rh41) and 5 EWS (CHLA9, CHLA10, TC32, CHLA258, and TC71) cell lines. We then established VCR-resistant RMS and EWS cell lines by exposing cells to serially increasing concentrations of VCR and determining the IC50. We defined resistance as a ≥ 30-fold increase in IC50 compared with parental cells. We determined changes in gene expression in the VCR-resistant cells compared with parental cells using an 86-gene cancer drug resistance array that included GLI1 and tested the effect of GLI1 inhibition with GANT61 or GLI1 siRNA on VCR resistance.ResultsWe found evidence for HH pathway activity and GLI1 expression in RMS and EWS cell lines at baseline, and evidence that GLI1 contributes to survival and proliferation of these sarcoma cells. We were able to establish 4 VCR-resistant cell lines (Ruch-2VR, Rh30VR, Rh41VR, and TC71VR). GLI1 was significantly up-regulated in the Rh30VR, Rh41VR, and TC71VR cells. The only other gene in the drug resistance panel that was significantly up-regulated in each of these VCR-resistant cell lines compared with their corresponding parental cells was the GLI1 direct target and multidrug resistance gene, ATP-binding cassette sub-family B member 1 (MDR1). We established major vault protein (MVP), which was up-regulated in both vincristine-resistant alveolar RMS cell lines (Rh30VR and Rh41VR), as another direct target of GLI1 during development of drug resistance. Treatment of the VCR-resistant cell lines with the small molecule inhibitor GANT61 or GLI1 siRNA together with VCR significantly decreased cell viability at doses that did not reduce viability individually.ConclusionsThese experiments demonstrate that GLI1 up-regulation contributes to VCR resistance in RMS and EWS cell lines and suggest that targeting GLI1 may benefit patients with RMS or EWS by reducing multidrug resistance.

Identification of Smac mimetics as novel substrates for p-glycoprotein

Multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy is preventing effective treatment of multiple cancer types including pediatric tumors. Resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs in cancer cells is frequently associated with high expression of p-glycoprotein, a transporter in the plasma membrane that can mediate cellular drug export. Here, we generated pediatric cancer cells with acquired resistance to the chemotherapeutic drug vincristine (VCR). In these cells, acquired resistance is associated with increased expression of p-glycoprotein. VCR-resistant cells display an MDR phenotype and have acquired resistance to multiple other chemotherapeutic drugs including doxorubicin (DOXO) and etoposide (ETO). Notably, we discovered that these cells also display cross-resistance with several Smac mimetics, a novel class of experimental cancer therapeutics designed to induce apoptosis by inhibiting Inhibitor of Apoptosis (IAP) proteins. Resistance to Smac mimetics is reversible in the presence of p-glycoprotein inhibitors, highlighting Smac mimetics as novel substrates for p-glycoprotein. The identification of Smac mimetics as substrates for p-glycoproteins may influence the design of future clinical trials to prevent usage of Smac mimetics in the context of MDR or, alternatively, combine Smac mimetics with p-glycoprotein inhibitors to maximize their efficiency.

BRCA1 expression serves a role in vincristine resistance in colon cancer cells.

The present study aimed to investigate the association between breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 (BRCA1) expression and drug resistance in colon cancer, with the specific aim of elucidating the underlying molecular mechanisms of vincristine (VCR) resistance in tumor cells. The HCT-8 human colon cancer cell line was used to establish the VCR-resistant HCT-8/V line by gradually increasing the concentration of VCR during cell culture. The relative mRNA and protein expression levels of BRCA1 in these colon cancer cell lines was assessed by reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis and western blotting, respectively. Resistance to VCR was established in the HCT-8/V colon cancer cells, and RT-qPCR and western blot analysis revealed the expression of BRCA1 to be significantly higher in the VCR-resistant cells compared with their drug-sensitive counterparts (P<0.05). The decreased BRCA1 expression in these VCR-resistant cells may be associated with the drug resistance frequently observed in colon cancer.

ATP binding cassette C1 (ABCC1/MRP1)-mediated drug efflux contributes to disease progression in T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia

In acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), multidrug resistance is often mediated by ATPase Binding Cassette (ABC) proteins, which principally involve ABCB1 (multidrug resistance 1, MDR1) and ABCC1 (multidrug resistance protein 1, MRP1). However, direct comparisons between the differential effects of ABCB1 and ABCC1 have been difficult, since identical cell lines with differential expression of these transporters have not been developed. In this study, we developed and compared the biological profiles of Jurkat cell lines that selectively over-expressed ABCB1 and ABCC1. Vincristine (VCR) plays an important role in the treatment of T-lineage ALL (T-ALL), and is often the first drug given to newly-diagnosed patients. Because of its importance in treatment, we provided escalating, sub-lethal doses of VCR to Jurkat cells, and extended our observations to expression profiling of newly diagnosed patients with T-ALL. We found that VCR-resistant cells over-expressed ABCC1 nearly 30-fold. The calcein AM assay confirmed that VCR-resistant cells actively extruded VCR, and that ABCC1-mediated drug resistance conferred a different spectrum of multidrug resistance than other T-ALL induction agents. siRNA experiments that blocked ABCC1 export confirmed that VCR resistance could be reversed in vitro. Analyses of T-lymphoblasts obtained from 92 newly diagnosed T-ALL patients treated on Children's Oncology Group Phase III studies 8704/9404 showed that induction failure could be explained in all but one case by the over-expression of ABCB1 or ABCC1. Taken together, these results suggest that over-expression of ABC transporters plays a contributing role in mediating treatment failure in T-ALL, and underscore the need to employ alternate treatment approaches in patients for whom induction failed or for those with relapsed disease.

Abstract 822: Drug resistance towards vincristine in acute lymphoblastic leukemia is mediated by the PI3K-Akt pathway

Abstract Contemporary acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) therapy involves the use of powerful anti-mitotic agents such as vincristine (VCR). VCR targets the microtubule cytoskeleton and disrupts important cellular processes, leading to cell death. Nonetheless, around 20% of patients relapse and become resistant to most drugs. At present, mechanisms of resistance toward VCR remain elusive despite its extensive clinical use, warranting a more in-depth study with respect to ALL. Five VCR-resistant (VCR-R) subclones were established by gradually exposing five ALL VCR-sensitive (VCR-S) cell lines (Jurkat, REH, SEM, RS4;11, 697) to incremental doses of VCR. Comparing resistant to sensitive cells, the IC50 at 48h increased 3-6 logs. Both VCR-S and VCR-R cell lines were subjected to cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry using propidium iodide staining. After a 48h exposure to VCR, cell death for VCR-S cells was the result of a typical G2/M phase arrest. In contrast, a G2/M phase arrest did not precede the VCR-induced cell death of VCR-R cells. VCR-R subclones were also observed to be more resistant to vinblastine, an alternative tubulin binding agent. In addition, there was increased resistance towards other chemotherapeutic drugs such as prednisolone, dexamethasone, daunorubicin and doxorubicin, indicating that resistance to VCR may contribute to cross-resistance after a prolonged incubation. The PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway is known to play important roles in cancer cell proliferation and survival. The combination of inhibitors with other chemotherapeutic agents also has the potential to enhance leukemic cell death. To further investigate if the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway is involved in VCR resistance, we screened a panel of twelve kinase inhibitors (Merck) which selectively targets this pathway. Interestingly, PDK1/Akt/Flt Dual Pathway Inhibitor KP372-1, was highly potent toward all cell lines with IC50 less than 100nM. Our results also showed that the administration of PI3Kα Inhibitor VIII, Akt Inhibitor IV and PI-103, as well as pan-selective PI3K inhibitors Wortmannin and LY294002 in combination with VCR was able to promote increased levels of cell death. Cell cycle analysis also revealed that the combination treatment elicits different methods of cell death between VCR-S and VCR-R cells. This is especially evident upon the co-treatment with pan-selective inhibitors. Optimising the sensitivity of ALL cells and/or reversing resistance to VCR promise to maximise the therapeutic value of this important chemotherapy. This study provides evidence that VCR resistance potentially contributes to cross-resistance. Our data also shows that the PI3K-Akt pathway may be involved in VCR resistance in ALL, providing a valid rationale for further studies and the future application of inhibitors in clinical settings. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 822. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-822

De Novo Expression of ATP Binding Cassette C1 (ABCC1) on T-ALL Cells Confers Resistance to Vincristine Independent of an MDR1 Phenotype.

Acquired drug resistance eventually leads to treatment failure in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). To define mechanisms of vincristine (VCR)-resistance, and to address whether inducible resistance in T-ALL might be mechanistically-dependent on ABC drug transporter expression, we developed VCR-resistant Sup T1 and Jurkat by incrementally growing cells in increasing drug concentrations. Jurkat (CD1a−, sCD3+) and Sup T1 (CD1a+, sCD3−) are arrested at “mature” and “cortical” stages of T-cell development and, respectively, showed 1190-fold (0.0006 μM to 0.714 μM) and 790-fold (0.0006 μM to 0.474 μM) increased resistance to VCR. Microarray analysis showed that expression of the ATP Binding Cassette C1 (ABCC1; Multidrug Resistance Protein, MDR2) was increased more than 29-fold in VCR-resistant cells as compared to the parental controls; fold increases in mRNA of ABCC1 were confirmed by RT-PCR, and cell surface expression by flow cytometric analysis. We then employed a flow cytometry-based assay that measures the ability of ABC pumps to extrude fluorescent dyes (Calcein AM). We confirmed that VCR-resistant Jurkat and Sup T1 actively extrude Calcein AM; drug extrusion was also effectively blocked by verapamil and other known ABCB1 antagonists. In contrast to our previous observations for ABCB1-mediated multidrug resistance (Estes, et al., British Journal of Haematology , in press), ABCC1-mediated drug resistance conferred a more narrow spectrum of multidrug resistance for the chemotherapeutic agents commonly used in T-ALL induction. To investigate whether ABC expression might impact patient outcome, we next examined ABCC1 and ABCB1 expression (>1.5-fold) in 80 T-ALL patients treated on COG studies 8704 and 9404. Different from our earlier findings that ABCB1 expression in diagnostic marrows conferred a 100% risk for on-therapy relapse, we found that ABCC1 expression only predicted treatment failure in approximately 25% of affected patients. These results suggest that ABC transporters are differentially regulated in Sup T1 and Jurkat, and that substrate-specific ABC protein regulation results in unique multidrug resistance phenotypes in T-ALL. This study contributes to the repertoire of substrate-specific, drug resistant T-ALL cells lines that are available for modeling treatment failure, provides mechanistically-based insights into relapse, and establishes an experimental means for investigating compounds that reverse ABCC1 mediated drug resistance.

99mTc‐MIBI imaging for prediction of therapeutic effects of second‐generation MDR1 inhibitors in malignant brain tumors

The aim of this study was to explore whether (99m)Tc-methoxyisobutylisonitrile ((99m)Tc-MIBI) is suitable to elucidate multidrug resistance and prediction of potentiation of antitumor agents by second-generation MDR1 inhibitors (PSC833, MS-209) in malignant brain tumors in rat. Malignant tumor cells (RG2 and C6 gliomas, Walker 256 carcinoma) were incubated with low dose vincristine (VCR) to induce multidrug resistance. MTT assay demonstrated a significant increase of surviving fractions in VCR-resistant sublines compared to those of drug-naive cells. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction revealed higher expression of MDR1 mRNA in VCR-resistant cells than drug-naive cells in each line. Volume distribution (V(d)) of (99m)Tc-MIBI was negatively correlated with MDR1 mRNA expression among drug-naive and VCR-resistant cells. MDR1 inhibitors decreased surviving fractions and increased V(d) of (99m)Tc-MIBI significantly in VCR-resistant sublines, whereas MDR1 mRNA expression was unchanged. These findings indicate that (99m)Tc-MIBI efflux was functionally suppressed by MDR1 inhibitors. Autoradiographic images of (99m)Tc-MIBI revealed higher uptake in drug-naive cells at basal ganglia compared with VCR-resistant cells at the opposite basal ganglia of rats. Oral administration of the second-generation MDR1 inhibitors significantly increased (99m)Tc-MIBI accumulation of both tumors. Therapeutic effects of VCR with or without the MDR1 inhibitors were also evaluated autoradiographically using (14)C-methyl-L-methionine ((14)C-Met) and MIB-5 index. (14)C-Met uptake and MIB-5 index of both tumors treated with VCR following the MDR1 inhibitor treatment significantly decreased compared with tumors treated with VCR alone. Analysis of (99m)Tc-MIBI accumulation is considered informative for detecting MDR1-mediated drug resistance and for monitoring the therapeutic effects of MDR1 inhibitors in malignant brain tumors.

Biology and modulation of multidrug resistance (MDR) in hematological malignancies.

Drug resistance is one of the most significant impediments in the treatment of hematological malignancies. There have been a number of studies on the incidence of P-GP expression in tumor cells or tissues, where detectable level of P-GP has been found in all types of hematological malignancies. P-GP expression and significance in the patients varies widely between reported studies on patients with different ages and different disease types. Some of this validation can be accounted for by the threshold used to consider a sample positive for P-GP. However, mdr-1 is likely important in determining therapeutic outcome in patients with AML, NHL, and MM, although there is a suggestion of a different "behavior" between adult and childhood AML. In contrast, the significant prognostic association with expression of MRP and LRP is not consistent with disease types and disease stages. Clinical trials of modulation of MDR have been limited by following major factors. One is inability of achieving adequate blood levels of the modulator to reverse MDR, and the other is presence of other resistance mechanisms in addition to P-GP. The fact that P-GP modulators alter the pharmacokinetics of anti-cancer drugs can potentially increase toxicities if the dose of anticancer drugs is not appropriately reduced. Recently, MDR modulators such as valspodar have demonstrated substantial inhibition of P-GP. In this presentation, a number of characteristics in VCR-resistant cells are reported. We demonstrate that acquisition of MDR or recovery from MDR phenotypes differ in one cell type to another, a marked correlation between P-GP and susuceptibility to oxygen radicals, and altered gene expression of cell membrane antigen and apoptosis cascade genes. The efficacy of immunotherapies depends on the altered or unchanged target molecules of MDR cells. Thus, immunotherapies or reversal agents that aim at these substances in tumor cells should be useful to overcome MDR phenotypes.

Cytocidal activity of PBL, LAK, and IDEC-C2B8 and expression of HLA class 1, ICAM-1, and CD20 in vincristine-resistant hematologic cell lines.

This study was designed to determine whether the cytocidal activity of immunotherapy such as cytotoxic peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells, and chimeric anti-CD20 mouse/human monoclonal antibody, IDEC-C2B8, overcome vincristine (VCR) resistance in cultured cell lines derived from human leukemia/lymphoma. In addition, the relation between the susceptibility to these immunotherapies and the expression levels of HLA class 1 and ICAM-1 as well as CD20 on the cell surface was analyzed. Three of six VCR-resistant cell lines were less susceptible to PBL cytotoxicity compared with wild-type cells, whereas the susceptibility was kept in the other three VCR-resistant cell lines. Four of six VCR-resistant cell lines were less susceptible to LAK activity and the other two cell lines were as sensitive to LAK cells as their wild-type counterparts. There was no correlation between the susceptibility for PBL cytotoxicity and the expression of HLA class 1 in both wild and VCR-resistant cells. In contrast, ICAM-1 in the two cell lines that showed decreased susceptibility for LAK cytotoxicity disappeared, although that in one cell line increased. IDEC-C2B8 was effective only against B-cell lines expressing CD20. One cell line in which the expression of CD20 increased was nearly six times more sensitive to IDEC-C2B8 than wild type. Thus, we concluded that the resistance to VCR in some tumor cell lines is associated with modified susceptibility for immunotherapies by the different expression of target molecules from those of wild-type counterparts.

Correlation between permeability-related glycoprotein expression and susceptibility to oxygen radicals in vincristine-resistant hematologic cell lines

This study was designed to test the correlation between the expression of permeability-related glycoprotein (P-GP) and susceptibility to oxygen radicals derived from the reaction of hypoxanthine (HX)-xanthine oxidase (XO) in wild type and vincristine (VCR)-resistant hematologic cell lines. A marked correlation between P-GP expression and susceptibility to oxygen radicals was found in VCR-resistant cells, while it was weak in wild cell lines. In contrast, there was neither correlation between sensitivity to VCR and oxygen radicals nor between sensitivity to VCR and P-GP expression in both wild type and VCR-resistant cells. No correlation between sensitivity to adriamycin or oxygen radicals and P-GP expression were observed in both cells tested. These results may suggest a new mechanism of drug resistance in cells expressing P-GP.

Differential expression of steroid receptors, hsp27, and pS2 in a series of drug resistant human breast tumor cell lines derived following exposure to antitumor drugs or to fractionated X-irradiation

This study examined whether levels of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and expression of estrogen regulated pS2 and/or heat shock protein (hsp) 27 were associated with drug resistance in a series of MCF-7 sublines expressing modest (i.e. 3- to 14-fold), yet clinically relevant, levels of resistance to vincristine (VCR). These sublines were variously derived following pulsed exposures to VCR, to fractionated X-irradiation, or to alternating drug and X-ray treatments. This selection procedure more closely reflects the clinical treatment of breast tumors than the use of continuous drug exposures. The drug-selected sublines exhibited the classical multidrug resistance phenotype (MDR) characterized by cross-resistance to vinblastine (VLB), etoposide (VP-16), and Adriamycin (ADR), overexpression of P-glycoprotein (Pgp), impaired accumulation of [3H]-VCR and of Rhodamine-123 (Rh 123), and altered activities of certain drug detoxification enzymes. This classic MDR phenotype was associated with a lack of mitogenic response to estrogen or antiestrogen, related to loss of detectable ER and PR; consistent with these data, neither pS2 nor hsp27 expression was detectable. In contrast, X-ray-pretreated VCR-resistant cells (MCF/DXR-10) cells exhibited a distinctive resistance phenotype proving cross-resistant to VLB and VP-16 but not to ADR, and Pgp overexpression was not detectable. Furthermore, these VCR-resistant DXR-10 cells retained parental levels of ER and PR, exhibited sensitivity to estrogen and 4-hydroxytamoxifen, and expressed detectable levels of pS2 and hsp27. Comparable characteristics to these MCF-7/DXR-10 cells were also identified in a similarly-derived X-ray-pretreated VCR-resistant subline of the ZR-75-1 human breast tumor cell line. These data therefore indicate that functional ER are frequently, but not invariably, modified in tumor cells which express resistance to multiple drugs.

Enhancement of antitumour activity of etoposide by dihydropyridines on drug-sensitive and drug-resistant leukaemia in mice

We recently reported that six 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives out of 57 screened effectively over-came vincristine (VCR)-resistance in VCR-resistant (P388/VCR) leukaemia-bearing mice when the dihydropyridines and VCR were administered intraperitoneally (i.p.). Furthermore, among the six dihydropyridine derivatives, two compounds, NK-250 and NK-252, most effectively overcame VCR-resistance while exhibiting relatively low calcium antagonistic activity and toxicity. In this study, we examined whether NK-250 and NK-252 could potentiate the antitumour activities of etoposide in mice with drug-sensitive (P388/S) or VCR-resistant (P388/VCR) leukaemia cells when the anticancer agents and tumour cells were administered by various routes. In both groups of mice inoculated i.p. with P388/S- and P388/VCR-leukaemia cells, the oral (p.o.) administration of NK-250 combined with i.p. or intravenously (i.v.) administration of etoposide (ip-po-ip trials and ip-po-iv trials) dramatically potentiated the antitumour activity of etoposide. Although etoposide alone was less effective in treating mice inoculated i.v. with P388/S- and P388/VCR-leukaemia cells, p.o. administration of NK-250 combined with i.p. or i.v. administration of etoposide (iv-po-ip trials and iv-po-iv trials) potentiated the antitumour activity of etoposide to similar levels as in treating mice inoculated i.p. with leukaemia cells. These 1,4-dihydropyridines were therefore highly effective in potentiating anticancer drugs against both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant tumours.

Differential in vitro sensitivity of human tumor and normal cells to chemotherapeutic agents and resistance modulators

The intrinsically Vincristine(Vcr)-resistant human kidney adenocarcinoma cell line ACHN, the human acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line L0, its more-than-100-fold Vcr-resistant subline LI00, normal human fibroblasts and lymphocytes, also tumor cells from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) and solid tumors, were compared for sensitivity to cytotoxic drugs and resistance modulators (RMs). The LI00 cells showed pronounced sensitivity to the RMs verapamil (Ver), cyclosporin A (CsA) and buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) alone as well as to cisplatinum, whereas the L0 and ACHN cells, also slowly growing fibroblasts and non-proliferating lymphocytes, were considerably less sensitive. Compared with AML cells and lymphocytes, CLL cells were more sensitive to Ver and CsA alone. The cytotoxicity of Vcr was significantly increased in the Vcr-resistant ACHN and LI00, but also in sensitive L0 cells by Ver and CsA, with smaller effects on Dox and Vp-16 toxicity. Fibroblasts and lymphocytes were generally resistant to the cytotoxic agents and RM addition had only minor effects. CLL cells were more sensitive to Dox and Vcr as compared with normal lymphocytes, with potentiation of the Vcr effect by Ver and CsA. The Vcr effect in non-proliferating Vcr-resistant cells from a malignant schwannoma was potentiated by Ver and CsA, which had no effect in cells from a kidney adenocarcinoma. We conclude that cytotoxicity of RMs alone is not dependent on the proliferation rate of tumor cells and that potentiation of cytotoxic drugs by RMs may be selective for tumor cells irrespective of their initial level and mode of drug resistance.

Gene amplification-associated cytogenetic aberrations and protein changes in vincristine-resistant Chinese hamster, mouse, and human cells.

We carried out cytogenetic studies of four Chinese hamster, mouse, and human cell lines selected for high levels of resistance (500- to 4,000-fold) to vincristine (VCR) by a multistep selection procedure. All cells examined contained gene amplification-associated metaphase chromosome abnormalities, either homogeneously staining regions (HSRs), abnormally banding regions (ABRs), or double-minute chromosomes (DMs); control actinomycin D- and daunorubicin-resistant hamster lines did not exhibit this type of chromosomal abnormality. VCR-resistant Chinese hamster sublines exhibited both increased synthesis of the protein V19 (Mr 19,000; pl = 5.7) and increased concentrations of V19 polysomal mRNA. When VCR-resistant cells were grown in drug-free medium, level of resistance, synthesis of V19, and amount of V19 mRNA declined in parallel with mean length of the HSR or mean number of DMs per cell. Cross-resistance studies indicate that VCR-resistant cells have increased resistance both to antimitotic agents and to a wide variety of agents unrelated to VCR in chemical structure and/or mechanism of action. Our studies of tubulin synthesis in Chinese hamster cells indicate no overproduction of tubulin or presence of a mutant tubulin species. Comparison with antifolate-resistant Chinese hamster cells known to contain amplified dihydrofolate reductase genes localized to HSRs or ABRs strongly suggests that the HSRs, ABRs, or DMs of the Vinca alkaloid-resistant sublines likewise represent cytological manifestations of specifically amplified genes, possibly encoding V19, involved in development of resistance to VCR.

Establishment of Vincristine-resistant and vindesine-resistant lines of murine lymphoblasts in vitro and characterisation of their patterns of cross-resistance and drug sensitivities.

Clinical evidence suggests some lack of cross resistance between vincristine (VCR) and vindesine (VDS). To investigate this phenomenon experimentally, drug-resistant L5178Y lymphoblast cell lines have been derived in vitro. These lines, under conditions of continuous drug exposure, exhibit a 50-fold order of resistance. Resistance appears due, at least in part, to impaired cellular drug accumulation and retention. Exposure of these resistant cells to VCR or VDS for 24 h showed that the presence or absence of cross resistance was dose-dependent, being most noticeable at low concentrations (less than 0.5 ng/ml) and absent at higher drug levels. Cross resistance also showed some dose-dependency for vinblastine and formyl-leurosine, but this was not seen with other drugs. Marked and complete cross resistance at all concentrations tested was noted with adriamycin and 4'-epiadriamycin in both resistant lines, which, however, retained the same sensitivities as the parent line to VM26, VP-16-213, 5-fluorouracil, and methotrexate. Responses to actinomycin D and mAMSA differed in these two resistant lines. VDS-resistant cells exhibited cross resistance to both drugs, whilst VCR-resistant cells showed only slight resistance to actinomycin D whilst retaining full sensitivity mAMSA. This observation that cross resistance between VCR and VDS is not invariable in vitro appears to reflect clinical experience.