mPEG-b-PCL/TPGS mixed micelles for delivery of resveratrol in overcoming resistant breast cancer

Objective: Drug resistance remains a major challenge for effective breast cancer chemotherapy. Resveratrol (Res) is a promising candidate for overcoming cancer chemoresistance, but it has low bioavailability due to poor absorption, and ready metabolism limits its application. This study aims to develop a Res-loaded mixed micelle system to be effective on drug resistance of breast cancer cells.

Methods: A mixed micelle system made of methoxy poly (ethylene glycol)-b-polycaprolactone (mPEG-PCL) and d-α-Tocopherol polyethylene glycol succinate was prepared and Res was encapsulated to form Res-loaded mixed micelles. Furthermore, the antitumor activity against doxorubicin (Dox)-resistant breast cancer MCF-7/ADR cells was studied and the possible mechanism was elucidated.

Results: The mixed micellar formulation increased drug uptake efficiency of Res by Dox-resistant breast cancer MCF-7/ADR cells, and induced higher rates of apoptotic cell death, as assessed by the accumulation of Sub G1 phases of cell cycle, nucleus staining and Annexin-FITC/propidium iodide assay. Moreover, Res-loaded mixed micelles also markedly enhanced Dox-induced cytotoxicity in MCF-7/ADR cells and increased the cellular accumulation of Dox by downregulating the expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and inhibiting the activity thereof.

Conclusion: The cumulative evidence indicates that Res-loaded mixed micelles hold significant promise for the treatment of drug-resistant breast cancer.     

粉防己碱逆转肿瘤多药抗药性细胞的凋亡抗性作用

目的探讨粉防己碱逆转ＭＤＲ细胞凋亡抗性的作用及其机制。方法ＭＤＲ细胞株ＭＣＦ－７／Ａｄｒ与其相应的敏感株ＭＣＦ－７进行对比研究。比较粉防己碱对阿霉素（Ｄｏｘ）诱导ＭＤＲ细胞及其相应的敏感株的凋亡作用。并比较粉防己碱对ＭＤＲ细胞及其相应的敏感株的细胞ｂｃｌ－２蛋白的表达的影响。细胞凋亡及ｂｃｌ－２蛋白表达的测定以流式细胞仪法。结果加入Ｄｏｘ共同培养２４ｈ可诱导７４．６％ＭＣＦ－７细胞凋亡，而只引起１４．３％的ＭＣＦ－７／Ａｄｒ细胞凋亡。只加入粉防己碱共同培养２４ｈ，未见明显增加ＭＤＲ细胞及其相应敏感细胞的凋亡百分比。Ｄｏｘ＋粉防己碱能显著地使ＭＤＲ细胞的凋亡增至４７．０％，与单独用Ｄｏｘ组相比较，差异有显著性（Ｐ＜０．０１），而敏感细胞株为７７．８％，与单独用Ｄｏｘ组相比较，差异无显著性（Ｐ＞０．０５）。ＭＤＲ细胞株与其相应的敏感株ｂｃｌ－２蛋白表达水平均较低且差异无显著性。加入粉防己碱对ＭＤＲ细胞株与其相应的敏感株ｂｃｌ－２蛋白表达水平均未见明显影响。结论粉防己碱能逆转ＭＤＲ细胞对Ｄｏｘ的凋亡抗性。其逆转机制可能与ｂｃｌ－２蛋白表达无关。粉防己碱逆转ＭＤＲ细胞ＭＣＲ－７／ＡＤＲ对Ｄｏｘ的凋亡抗性的机制有待进?     

Glutathione S-transferases in wild-type and doxorubicin-resistant MCF-7 human breast cancer cell lines

1. Overexpression of glutathione S-transferases (GST) in breast cancer cells is hypothesized to be a component of the multifactorial doxorubicin-resistant phenotype. 2. We have characterized the expression of GST enzymes at the catalytic activity, protein and mRNA levels in wild-type MCF-7 (MCF-7/WT) human breast cancer cells and a line selected for resistance to doxorubicin (MCF-7/ADR), with the goal of modulating GST activity to overcome resistance. 3. The MCF-7/ADR cells were 30-65-fold more resistant to doxorubicin than the MCF-7/WT cells. 4. Total cytosolic GST catalytic activity was elevated 23-fold in the MCF-7/ADR cells as compared with the MCF-7/WT cells, and the MCF-7/ADR cells also showed 3-fold increases in catalytic activity toward GST mu and alpha class-selective substrates. Neither cell line showed detectable catalytic activity with a GST mu class-selective substrate. 5. MCF-7/ADR cells showed pronounced overexpression of GST mu protein and GST P1 mRNA in comparison with the wild-type cell line. Neither cell line displayed detectable GST alpha or mu at the protein level. 6. A glutathione analogue that functions as a selective GST alpha inhibitor was more potent at inhibiting total cytosolic GST catalytic activity in the MCF-7/ADR cell line than GST alpha and mu class-selective inhibitory glutathione analogues and the non-selective GST inhibitor ethacrynic acid. 7. The multidrug resistance-associated protein, which can function as a glutathione-conjugate transporter, appeared weakly overexpressed in the MCF-7/ADR cells in comparison with the MCF-7/WT cells.     

Reversal activity of nanostructured lipid carriers loading cytotoxic drug in multi-drug resistant cancer cells

To overcome multi-drug resistance (MDR) of cancer cells, paclitaxel (PTX) and doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) were prepared by solvent diffusion method using monostearin as solid lipid and oleic acid as liquid lipid matrix. The cytotoxicities and reversal activity of drug-loaded NLC were tested against human breast cancer (MCF-7) cells, human ovarian cancer (SKOV3) cells and their multi-drug resistant (MCF-7/ADR and SKOV3-TR30) cells. The chemical conjugant of folic acid and stearic acid (FA-SA) was further synthesized to prepare folated NLC. Comparing with taxol and doxorubicin solution, the NLC loading PTX exhibited high cytotoxicities in MCF-7 and MCF-7/ADR cells, while the NLC loading DOX only indicated high cytotoxicity in MCF-7/ADR cells. The reversal powers of the NLC loading PTX and DOX were 34.3 and 6.4 folds, respectively. The NLC loading PTX and DOX showed the same trends of enhanced cytotoxicity against SKOV3 and SKOV3-TR30 cells. The reversal powers were 31.3 and 2.2 folds for the NLC loading PTX and DOX, respectively. The modification of NLC with FA-SA could further enhance the cytotoxicities of drug in drug sensitive and drug resistant cells.     

A New Polymer–Lipid Hybrid Nanoparticle System Increases Cytotoxicity of Doxorubicin Against Multidrug-Resistant Human Breast Cancer Cells

Purpose This work is intended to develop and evaluate a new polymer–lipid hybrid nanoparticle system that can efficiently load and release water-soluble anticancer drug doxorubicin hydrochloride (Dox) and enhance Dox toxicity against multidrug-resistant (MDR) cancer cells. Methods Cationic Dox was complexed with a new soybean-oil-based anionic polymer and dispersed together with a lipid in water to form Dox-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (Dox–SLNs). Drug loading and release properties were measured spectrophotometrically. The in vitro cytotoxicity of Dox–SLN and the excipients in an MDR human breast cancer cell line (MDA435/LCC6/MDR1) and its wild-type line were evaluated by trypan blue exclusion and clonogenic assays. Cellular uptake and retention of Dox were determined with a microplate fluorometer. Results Dox–SLNs were prepared with a drug encapsulation efficiency of 60–80% and a particle size range of 80–350 nm. About 50% of the loaded drug was released in the first few hours and an additional 10–20% in 2 weeks. Treatment of the MDR cells with Dox–SLN resulted in over 8-fold increase in cell kill when compared to Dox solution treatment at equivalent doses. The blank SLN and the excipients exhibited little cytotoxicity. The biological activity of the released Dox remained unchanged from fresh, free Dox. Cellular Dox uptake and retention by the MDR cells were both significantly enhanced (p < 0.05) when Dox was delivered in Dox–SLN form. Conclusions The new polymer–lipid hybrid nanoparticle system is effective for delivery of Dox and enhances its efficacy against MDR breast cancer cells.     

Overcoming chemotherapy resistance via simultaneous drug-efflux circumvention and mitochondrial targeting

Multidrug resistance (MDR) has been considered as a huge challenge to the effective chemotherapy. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new strategies to effectively overcome MDR. Here, based on the previous research of N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) polymer–drug conjugates, we designed an effective system that combined drug-efflux circumvention and mitochondria targeting of anticancer drug doxorubicin (Dox). Briefly, Dox was modified with mitochondrial membrane penetrating peptide (MPP) and then attached to (HPMA) copolymers (P-M-Dox). Our study showed that macromolecular HPMA copolymers successfully bypassed drug efflux pumps and escorted Dox into resistant MCF-7/ADR cells via endocytic pathway. Subsequently, the mitochondria accumulation of drugs was significantly enhanced with 11.6-fold increase by MPP modification. The excellent mitochondria targeting then resulted in significant enhancement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as reduction of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production, which could further inhibit drug efflux and resistant cancer cell growth. By reversing Dox resistance, P-M-Dox achieved much better suppression in the growth of 3D MCF-7/ADR tumor spheroids compared with free Dox. Hence, our study provides a promising approach to treat drug-resistant cancer through simultaneous drug efflux circumvention and direct mitochondria delivery.     

泊洛沙姆188-PLGA纳米给药系统对抗耐药肿瘤的研究

目的 利用泊洛沙姆188对PLGA进行化学修饰,制备包载阿霉素的纳米粒,并评价纳米粒在人耐药乳腺癌细胞中的摄取能力及毒性。方法 通过EDC/NHS法合成泊洛沙姆188-PLGA,通过核磁共振对其结构进行表征并测定临界胶束浓度;通过纳米沉淀法制备包载阿霉素的纳米粒,通过粒度仪对纳米粒的粒径及分布进行分析,通过细胞摄取实验及细胞毒性实验对纳米粒的摄取效果及毒性进行评价。结果 成功合成了泊洛沙姆188-PLGA,并制备了粒径在140 nm左右的纳米粒,该纳米粒在人耐药乳腺癌细胞中有较好的摄取效果及较强的毒性。结论 泊洛沙姆188能够逆转耐药,增强耐药细胞对化疗药物的敏感程度。     

Epigenetic modulation of the biophysical properties of drug-resistant cell lipids to restore drug transport and endocytic functions

In our recent studies exploring the biophysical characteristics of resistant cell lipids, and the role they play in drug transport, we demonstrated the difference of drug-resistant breast cancer cells from drug-sensitive cells in lipid composition and biophysical properties, suggesting that cancer cells acquire a drug-resistant phenotype through the alteration of lipid synthesis to inhibit intracellular drug transport to protect from cytotoxic effect. In cancer cells, epigenetic changes (e.g., DNA hypermethylation) are essential to maintain this drug-resistant phenotype. Thus, altered lipid synthesis may be linked to epigenetic mechanisms of drug resistance. We hypothesize that reversing DNA hypermethylation in resistant cells with an epigenetic drug could alter lipid synthesis, changing the cell membrane's biophysical properties to facilitate drug delivery to overcome drug resistance. Herein we show that treating drug-resistant breast cancer cells (MCF-7/ADR) with the epigenetic drug 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (decitabine) significantly alters cell lipid composition and biophysical properties, causing the resistant cells to acquire biophysical characteristics similar to those of sensitive cell (MCF-7) lipids. Following decitabine treatment, resistant cells demonstrated increased sphingomyelinase activity, resulting in a decreased sphingomyelin level that influenced lipid domain structures, increased membrane fluidity, and reduced P-glycoprotein expression. Changes in the biophysical characteristics of resistant cell lipids facilitated doxorubicin transport and restored endocytic function for drug delivery with a lipid-encapsulated form of doxorubicin, enhancing the drug efficacy. In conclusion, we have established a new mechanism for efficacy of an epigenetic drug, mediated through changes in lipid composition and biophysical properties, in reversing cancer drug resistance.     

钙调素拮抗剂O-(4-乙氧基)-丁基-小檗胺增强阿霉素杀伤MCF-7/ADR细胞的机制研究

目的研究钙调素拮抗剂0-4-乙氧基-丁基-小檗胺(EBB)增强阿霉素诱导乳腺癌多药耐药细胞系MCF-7/ADR细胞的杀伤作用及其相关机制。方法用MTT法测定阿霉素、EBB单独及联合用药对阿霉素杀伤乳腺癌多药耐药细胞系(MCF-7/ADR)及其亲代细胞系(MCF-7)的作用的IC50值,用不同浓度EBB处理MCF-7/ADR细胞后用FACS法分析EBB对阿霉素诱导细胞凋亡及对mdr1mRNA和P-gp蛋白水平表达的影响,通过激光共聚焦显微镜观察EBB处理前后及用EBB预处理24和48h后MCF-7/ADR和MCF-7细胞内阿霉素浓度的改变。结果MTT结果显示EBB对MCF-7和MCF-7/ADR都具有抗肿瘤活性;EBB还能协同提高阿霉素的细胞毒作用,MCF-7组两药相互作用指数(CDI)值为0.73,MCF-7/ADR组CDI值为0.49,其对耐药细胞的协同作用更为明显。随EBB剂量增加,低剂量阿霉素诱导MCF-7/ADR细胞凋亡增加而且P-gp蛋白表达水平逐渐下降,细胞内阿霉素浓度逐渐提高,而且用EBB预处理MCF-7/ADR细胞24和48h后细胞内阿霉素和罗丹明浓度也逐渐提高。结论EBB是有效的肿瘤细胞化疗药物,它不但能直接抑制P-gp功能还具有下调P-gp蛋白表达的作用,从而有效逆转MCF-7/ADR细胞的耐药现象,协同增强化疗药物对耐药细胞的杀伤作用。     

N-糖基取代的邻苯二甲酰亚胺新衍生物的合成与肿瘤多药耐药逆转作用研究

沙利度胺（α-N-phthalimido-glutarimide，TLD）是一种具有抗血管生成和抗炎作用的药物，对多种实体瘤有效。本文研究了N-糖基取代的沙利度胺新衍生物（STA-35）对阿霉素（doxorubicin，ADR）引起的多药耐药（multidurg resistance，MDR）的调节作用。采用SRB法检测化合物对癌细胞的增殖抑制作用，应用流式细胞术测定P-糖蛋白（P-glycoprotein，P—gp）的功能，以免疫印迹方法考察P—gP的蛋白表达。实验结果表明，STA-35能够抑制人乳腺癌细胞MCF-7及其ADR耐药细胞MCF-7／ADR生长，耐药指数仅为1．19；并能增强MCF-7／ADR细胞对ADR的敏感性。此外，STA-35可以增加MCF-7／ADR细胞内罗丹明123（rhodamine 123，RH123）的聚积，减弱P—gP的功能，抑制P-gp的蛋白表达。该化合物具有多药耐药逆转作用，其分子机制可能与抑制P—gp的功能和蛋白表达相关。     

Role of differential drug uptake, efflux, and binding of etoposide in sensitive and resistant human tumor cell lines: implications for the mechanisms of drug resistance

In order to study the mechanism of etoposide (VP-16) resistance in human tumor cells and to assess the role of P-170 glycoprotein in VP-16 accumulation, we have examined the uptake and efflux of VP-16 in both sensitive and multidrug-resistant MCF-7 human breast and HL60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells. The drug-resistant cells, MCF-7/ADR and HL60/ADR, were selected for resistance to adriamycin and were 200- to 250-fold resistant to VP-16. Whereas MCF-7/ADR cells overexpress the P-170 glycoprotein and show the multidrug-resistant phenotype, HL60/ADR cells do not overexpress the P-170 glycoprotein. Although there was a 2-fold decrease in accumulation of VP-16 in MCF-7/ADR cells, this decrease did not correlate with a 250-fold resistance to the drug. VP-16 efflux was rapid and almost complete from MCF-7 cell lines and it was decreased at 4 degrees. Further, there was a significant increase in VP-16 accumulation in the MCF-7/ADR cells in the presence of glucose-free medium supplemented with sodium azide. However, no change in the pattern of VP-16 efflux was observed. Under these conditions, addition of glucose caused release of VP-16 from MCF-7/ADR cells, suggesting energy-dependent modifications in the drug binding. Coincubation of vincristine with VP-16 also increased the drug accumulation and decreased the rate of efflux of VP-16 in both sensitive and resistant MCF-7 cells, suggesting that vincristine and VP-16 may compete for similar binding and efflux mechanisms in these cell lines. In contrast, daunorubicin increased VP-16 accumulation only in the sensitive MCF-7 cell line, whereas the efflux rate of VP-16 was not significantly changed in either cell line. HL60 sensitive cells accumulated 4- to 5-fold more VP-16 than the resistant subline. Both sensitive and resistant cells showed an important noneffluxable pool of the drug, 3-fold larger for sensitive cells (79 +/- 12 versus 25 +/- 2 pmol of VP-16/mg of protein, for sensitive and resistant cells, respectively). The efflux of VP-16 was temperature dependent only in sensitive cells. VP-16 accumulation in HL60/ADR cells was increased in glucose-free medium supplemented with sodium azide; however, the noneffluxable pool of VP-16 was not significantly changed. In contrast, although these conditions had no effect on the drug accumulation in the parental line, they caused a decrease in the noneffluxable pool of VP-16, suggesting an energy-dependent binding and retention of VP-16.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

一种新番荔枝内酯单体atemoyacin—B克服肿瘤多药抗药性

目的 探讨ａｔｅｍｏｙａｃｉｎ－Ｂ（Ａｔｅ）克服肿瘤多药抗药性（ＭＤＲ）作用及机制。方法 Ｂｕｌｌａｔａｃｉｎ（Ｂｕｌ）为阳性对照物,细胞毒测定以ＭＴＴ法,Ｐｇｐ功能测定以Ｆｕｒａ２－ＡＭ法,细胞内药物积累测定以荧光分光光度计法;细胞凋亡测定以流式细胞仪法,结果：Ａｔｅ对ＭＣＦ－７／Ｄｏｘ,ＭＣＦ－７,ＫＢＶ２００和ＫＢ细胞的ＩＣ５０分别为１２２,１２０,１．３４,１．２７ｍｍｏｌ．Ｌ＾－１,Ａｔ     

2—ASG —3—（3‘,5’—双吗啉甲基—4‘—羟基）—苯甲酰吲哚（HWL—12）逆转肿…

AIM: To explore the reversal of multidrug resistance (MDR) by indole derivative HWL-12. METHODS: Cytotoxicity was determined by tetrazolium (MTT) assay. The function of P-gp was examined by Fura 2-AM assay. Cellular accumulation of doxorubicin (Dox) was measured by fluorescence spectrophotometry. RESULTS: HWL-12 10 mumol.L-1 markedly increased Fura-2 accumulation and was 17.2-fold reversal of MDR in MCF-7/ADR cells. The cellular Dox accumulation in MDR cells was increased in the presence of HWL-12 on the MCF-7/ADR cells. No effect was observed for Dox accumulation in the presence of high Ca2+ (addition of CaCl2) or low Ca2+ (addition of egtazic acid). CONCLUSION: HWL-12 has a potent MDR reversal action which was associated with the increase of cellular Dox accumulation in MDR cells and not related with calcium ion concentration.     

Drug resistance in breast cancer cells: biophysical characterization of and doxorubicin interactions with membrane lipids

Understanding the role of lipids in drug transport is critical in cancer chemotherapy to overcome drug resistance. In this study, we isolated lipids from doxorubicin-sensitive (MCF-7) and -resistant (MCF-7/ADR) breast cancer cells to characterize the biophysical properties of membrane lipids (particularly lipid packing and membrane fluidity) and to understand the role of the interaction of cell membrane lipids with drug/nanocarrier on drug uptake and efficacy. Resistant cell membrane lipids showed significantly different composition and formed more condensed, less fluid monolayers than did lipids from sensitive cells. Doxorubicin, used as a model anticancer agent, showed a strong hydrophobic interaction with resistant cell membrane lipids but significantly less interaction, as well as a different pattern of interaction (i.e., ionic), with sensitive ones. The threshold intracellular doxorubicin concentration required to produce an antiproliferative effect was similar for both sensitive and resistant cell lines, suggesting that drug transport is a major barrier in determining drug efficacy in resistant cells. In addition to the biophysical characteristics of resistant cell membrane lipids, lipid-doxorubicin interactions appear to decrease intracellular drug transport via diffusion as the drug is trapped in the lipid bilayer. The rigid nature of resistant cell membranes also seems to influence endosomal functions that inhibit drug uptake when a liposomal formulation of doxorubicin is used. In conclusion, biophysical properties of resistant cell membrane lipids significantly influence drug transport, and hence drug efficacy. A better understanding of the mechanisms of cancer drug resistance is vital to developing more effective therapeutic interventions. In this regard, biophysical interaction studies with cell membrane lipids might be helpful to improve drug transport and efficacy through drug discovery and/or drug delivery approaches by overcoming the lipid barrier in resistant cells.     

An in vitro demonstration of overcoming drug resistance in SKOV3 TR and MCF7 ADR with targeted delivery of polymer pro-drug conjugates

Drug resistance is a common phenomenon that occurs in cancer chemotherapy. Delivery of chemotherapeutic agents as polymer pro-drug conjugates (PPDCs) pretargeted with bispecific antibodies could circumvent drug resistance in cancer cells. To demonstrate this approach to overcome drug resistance, Paclitaxel (Ptxl)-resistant SKOV3 TR human ovarian- and doxorubicin (Dox)-resistant MCF7 ADR human mammary-carcinoma cell lines were used. Pre-targeting over-expressed biotin or HER2/neu receptors on cancer cells was conducted by biotinylated anti-DTPA or anti-HER2/neu affibody – anti-DTPA Fab bispecific antibody complexes. The targeting PPDCs are either D-Dox-PGA or D-Ptxl-PGA. Cytotoxicity studies demonstrate that the pretargeted approach increases cytotoxicity of Ptxl or Dox in SKOV3 TR or MCF7 ADR resistant cell lines by 5.4 and 27 times, respectively. Epifluorescent microscopy – used to track internalization of D-Dox-PGA and Dox in MCF7 ADR cells – shows that the pretargeted delivery of D-Dox-PGA resulted in a 2- to 4-fold increase in intracellular Dox concentration relative to treatment with free Dox. The mechanism of internalization of PPDCs is consistent with endocytosis. Enhanced drug delivery and intracellular retention following pretargeted delivery of PPDCs resulted in greater tumor cell toxicity in the current in vitro studies.     

A thermally targeted elastin-like polypeptide-doxorubicin conjugate overcomes drug resistance

The ability of cancer cells to become simultaneously resistant to different drugs, a trait known as multidrug resistance, remains a major obstacle for successful anticancer therapy. One major mechanism of resistance involves cellular drug efflux by expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), a membrane transporter with a wide variety of substrates. Anthracyclines are especially prone to induction of resistance by the P-gp mechanism. P-gp mediated resistance is often confronted by use of P-gp inhibitors, synthesis of novel analogs, or conjugating drugs to macromolecular carriers in order to circumvent the efflux mechanism. In this report, the effect of free and Elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) bound doxorubicin (Dox) on the viability of sensitive (MES-SA and MCF-7) and multidrug resistant (MES-SA/Dx5 and NCI/ADR-RES) human carcinoma cells was studied in vitro. The resistant MES-SA/Dx5 cells demonstrated about 70 times higher resistance to free Dox than the sensitive MES-SA cells, and the NCI/ADR-RES cells were about 30 fold more resistant than the MCF-7 cells. However, the ELP-bound Dox was equally cytotoxic in both sensitive and resistant cell lines. The ELP-bound Dox was shown to accumulate in MES-SA/Dx5 cells, as opposed to free Dox, which was rapidly pumped out by the P-gp transporter. Since ELP is a thermally responsive carrier, the effect of hyperthermia on the cytotoxicity of the ELP-Dox conjugate was investigated. Both cytotoxicity and apoptosis were enhanced by hyperthermia in the Dox resistant cells. The results suggest that ELP-Dox conjugates may provide a means to thermally target solid tumors and to overcome drug resistance in cancer cells.     

Fundamental Relationships Between the Composition of Pluronic Block Copolymers and Their Hypersensitization Effect in MDR Cancer Cells

Purpose. Previous studies have demonstrated that Pluronic block copolymers hypersensitize multiple drug resistant (MDR) cancer cells, drastically increasing the cytotoxic effects of anthracyclines and other anticancer cytotoxics in these cells. This work evaluates the dose dependent effects of these polymers on (i) doxorubicin (Dox) cytotoxicity and (ii) cellular accumulation of P-glycoprotein probe, rhodamine 123 (R123) in MDR cancer cells. Methods. Dox cytotoxicity and R123 accumulation studies are performed on monolayers of drug-sensitive (KB, MCF-7, Aux-Bl) and MDR (KBv, MCF-7/ADR, CH^rC5) cells. Results. Both tests reveal strong effects of Pluronic copolymers observed at concentrations below the critical micelle concentration (CMC) and suggest that these effects are due to the copolymer single chains ('unimers'). Using block copolymers with various lengths of hydrophobic propylene oxide (PO) and hydrophilic ethylene oxide (EO) segments these studies suggest that the potency of Pluronic unimers in MDR cells increases with elevation of the hydrophobicity of their molecule. Optimization of Pluronic composition in R123 accumulation and Dox cytotoxicity studies reveals that Pluronic copolymers with intermediate lengths of PO chains and relatively short EO segments have the highest net efficacy in MDR cells. Conclusions. The relationship between the structure of Pluronic block copolymers and their biological response modifying effects in MDR cells is useful for determining formulations with maximal efficacy with respect to MDR tumors.     

Co-delivery of carbonic anhydrase IX inhibitor and doxorubicin as a promising approach to address hypoxia-induced chemoresistance

Hypoxia, an oxygen-deprived condition of the tumor, is one of the major reasons for resistance to chemotherapy. Carbonic anhydrases are generally involved in pH homeostasis in normal conditions, but in solid tumors having a strong relation with hypoxia, the carbonic anhydrase IX (CA-IX) enzyme is overexpressed and results in an extracellular acidic environment. For most weakly basic anticancer drugs, including doxorubicin (Dox), the ionization in an acidic environment limits their cellular uptake, and consequently, the tumor exposure to the drug at sub-therapeutic concentration comes out as chemoresistance. Herein, a combined drug delivery system of liposomes and mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) was developed for the co-delivery of the CA-IX enzyme inhibitor and Dox in hypoxic condition. The unique structure of MSNPs with higher surface area was utilized for higher drug loading and sustained release of Dox. Additionally, the biocompatible nature of liposomal coating as a second loading site for the CA-IX enzyme inhibitor has provided gatekeeping effects at pore opening to avoid premature drug release. Lipid coated MSNPs as a co-delivery system for Dox and the CA-IX inhibitor have synergistic cytotoxic effects against MDA-MB 231 breast cancer cells in hypoxic conditions. These findings assure the potential of this drug delivery system to overcome hypoxia-related chemoresistance.     

Evaluation of cell death caused by CDF (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, 5-fluorouracil) multi-drug administration in the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7

We evaluated the features of cell death induced by CDF (cyclophosphamide [CPA], doxorubicin [DOX], 5-fluorouracil [5-FU]) multi-drug administration in vitro using the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. Used individually, DOX and 5-FU induced 60% cell death in MCF-7 cells, at 5 microg/ml and 25 microg/ml, respectively, by the 4th day following drug treatment. CPA was the least cytotoxic of the 3 drugs, causing only 20% cell death, even at the high concentration of 500 microg/ml. Treating cells with a mixture of all three anticancer drugs resulted in 60% cell death, on the second and third day following drug treatment. The nature of the cytotoxicity of CPA, DOX, and 5-FU was investigated, because these drugs are sometimes used to induce apoptosis. Biochemical analysis showed faint DNA fragmentation in the case of DOX or all three drugs, but not for treatment with CPA or 5-FU. In contrast, the morphological apoptotic feature of a condensed nucleus was observed only for CPA and 5-FU. Flow cytometric data agreed with the morphological results in that the FACS cytogram for DOX and for all three drugs was different from that for CPA or 5-FU given alone. These observations suggested that the cell death induced by these anticancer drugs in the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 is a mixture of apoptotic and non-apoptotic, but it becomes completely non-apoptotic in the case of multi-drug administration.     

miR-34a靶向调控Akt/Bcl-2对乳腺癌细胞多柔比星耐药性的影响

目的：探讨miR-34a通过下调AKT/BCL2信号通路对乳腺癌细胞多柔比星耐药性的影响及其分子机制?方法：通过实时定量PCR法检测miR-34a-3p在乳腺癌细胞（MCF-7）和乳腺耐药细胞株（MCF-7/ADR）中的表达,并成功构建miR-34a mimics/inhibitor调控其表达水平;通过CCK8法分别筛选多柔比星处理MCF-7及MCF-7/ADR细胞的IC50值并处理细胞;使用CCK8,流式细胞技术以及免疫印迹实验验证在miR-34a过表达及干扰组中,乳腺癌细胞存活率,凋亡细胞百分比以及AKT/BCL2信号通路的改变。结果：miR-34a在MCF-7/ADR中的表达显著低MCF-7细胞,同时成功构建miR-34a过表达及敲减模型;多柔比星处理MCF-7及MCF-7/ADR细胞的IC50分别为0.89 μg/mL、13.61 μg/mL。当MCF-7及MCF-7/ADR细胞中miR-34a表达水平降低时,经多柔比星处理后,细胞存活率显著升高（P<0.05）,凋亡细胞比例显著减少（P<0.01）,同时下游AKT/BCL2信号表达上调（P<0.01）。而当MCF-7/ADR细胞中miR-34a表达升高时相应的观察到相反的细胞表型。结论：miR-34a在乳腺癌细胞中的表达下调,可能通过减少对AKT/BCL2信号的负向调控,减少细胞凋亡,进而增强细胞对多柔比星的耐药性。