DNA breakage in human lung carcinoma cells and nuclei that are naturally sensitive or resistant to etoposide and teniposide

Evidence suggests that the anticancer agents etoposide (VP16-213) and teniposide (VM26) produce DNA breaks and cytotoxicity by interaction with type II topoisomerase. Therefore, levels of type II topoisomerase may influence sensitivity to VP16-213 and VM26. We have characterized four lung carcinoma-derived cell lines for natural sensitivity or resistance to VP16-213 and VM26. Included in this study were two small cell lung carcinoma lines (SW900 and SW1271), an adenocarcinoma line (A549), and a large cell carcinoma (H157). SW1271 was the most sensitive line with a median inhibitory concentration for cell proliferation of 0.5 microM for VM26 and 2.7 microM for VP16-213, and SW900 was the most resistant with median inhibitory concentration values of 2.0 and 16 microM, respectively. A549 and H157 cells were intermediate in sensitivity to these drugs. Alkaline elution techniques were used to study in vivo formation and repair of single and double strand DNA breaks. Single strand DNA breaks were observed in SW1271 cells exposed to as little as 10 nM VM26 or 100 nM VP16-213 for 1 h, whereas SW900 cells required exposure to 10-fold higher concentrations of VM26 or VP16-213 to produce similar results. Single strand DNA breaks predominated only in SW1271 and A549 cells and then, only at low drug concentrations, whereas the ratios between single and double strand DNA breaks decreased at higher drug concentrations. Plots of cytotoxicity versus single and double strand DNA breakage revealed that cytotoxicity produced by both drugs was more closely related to double strand DNA break formation in all four cell lines. DNA breaks appeared rapidly upon addition of drug, reaching plateaus in DNA breaks within 30 min, and repair of both single and double strand DNA breaks occurred rapidly with time to repair one-half of the DNA breaks of 20 to 60 min in all four cell lines upon removal of drug, arguing against repair as a mechanism for drug resistance. DNA breakage was also observed in nuclei isolated from SW900 and SW1271 cells in similar magnitude to that observed in the respective cells. Results indicate that DNA breakage plateaus may reflect a steady-state equilibrium established between the drug and its nuclear target, possibly type II topoisomerase, and suggest that natural resistance to VP16-213 and VM26 may be due to different enzyme levels in sensitive and naturally resistant cells.     

Sensitivity to etoposide of human malignant glioma cell lines. Mechanisms of action]

AIM OF THE STUDY: Etoposide, a Topoisomerase II inhibitor agent, is currently being explored as a therapeutic agent for brain tumors. The aim of this experimental study was to compare the in vitro etoposide sensitivity of human glioma cells vs human squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cells. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twelve human cell lines (six malignant glioma cell lines and six head and neck SCC cell lines) were used for this comparative study. A standard colony formation assay was used to assess cell survival. Since Topoisomerase II is the critical target for etoposide, it was of interest to determine Topoisomerase II activity and etoposide induced inhibition of Topoisomerase II activity for the glioma cells vs the SCC cells. RESULTS: Except for etoposide-induced inhibition of Topoisomerase II activity, no difference was found for etoposide sensitivity and Topoisomerase II activity between the both type of cells. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that the Topoisomerase II reactive agents may prove to be clinically a useful drug for patients presenting with malignant gliomas.     

Differential cytotoxicity of 19 anticancer agents in wild type and etoposide resistant small cell lung cancer cell lines.

A panel of six ''wild type'' and three VP-16 resistant small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell lines is used to evaluate to what extent in vitro sensitivity testing using a clonogenic assay can contribute to combine cytotoxic drugs to regimens with improved efficacy against SCLC. The resistant lines include (a) H69/DAU4, which is classical multidrug resistant (MDR) with a P-glycoprotein efflux pump (b) NYH/VM, which exhibits an altered topoisomerase II (topo II) activity and (c) H69/VP, which is cross-resistant to vincristine, exhibits a reduced drug accumulation as H69/DAU4 but is without P-glycoprotein. 19 anticancer agents were compared in the panel. The MDR lines demonstrated, as expected, cross-resistance to all topo II drugs, but also different patterns of collateral sensitivity to BCNU, cisplatin, ara-C, hydroxyurea, and to the topo I inhibitor camptothecin. The complete panel of nine cell lines clearly demonstrated diverse sensitivity patterns to drugs with different modes of action. Correlation analysis showed high correlation coefficients (CC) among drug analogues (e.g. VP-16/VM-26 0.99, vincristine/vindesine 0.89), and between drugs with similar mechanisms of action (e.g. BCNU/Cisplatin 0.89, VP-16/Doxorubicin 0.92), whereas different drug classes demonstrated low or even negative CC (e.g. BCNU/VP-16 -0.21). When the CC of the 19 drug patterns to VP-16 were plotted against the CC to BCNU, clustering was observed between drugs acting on microtubules, on topo II, alkylating agents, and antimetabolites. In this plot, camptothecin and ara-C patterns were promising by virtue of their lack of cross-resistance to alkylating agents and topo II drugs. Thus, the differential cytotoxicity patterns on this panel of cells can (1) give information about drug mechanism of action, (2) enable the selection and combination of non-cross-resistant drugs, and (3) show where new drugs ''fit in'' among established agents.     

In vitro platinum drug chemosensitivity of human cervical squamous cell carcinoma cell lines with intrinsic and acquired resistance to cisplatin.

The platinum drug chemosensitivity of five human cervical squamous cell carcinoma cell lines (HX/151, HX/155, HX/156, HX/160 and HX/171) derived from previously untreated patients has been determined. Compared to our data obtained previously using human ovarian carcinoma cell lines, all five lines were relatively resistant to cisplatin, carboplatin, iproplatin and tetraplatin. One of the lines (HX/156) was exceptionally sensitive to the novel platinum (IV) ammine/amine dicarboxylates JM216 [bis-acetatoammine dichloro (cyclohexylamine) platinum (IV)] and JM221 [ammine dibutyrato dichloro (cyclohexylamine) platinum (IV)]. The range in IC50 values across the five lines was approximately 2.5-fold for cisplatin, carboplatin and iproplatin, 13-fold for tetraplatin and JM216, and 25-fold for JM221. No significant correlation (P > 0.05) was observed between platinum drug chemosensitivity and either glutathione levels or cadmium chloride sensitivity, an indicator of metallothionein levels. In addition, there was no significant correlation (P > 0.05) between cisplatin cytotoxicity and intracellular cisplatin accumulation or JM216 cytotoxicity and intracellular JM216 accumulation over the dose range 5-100 microM (2 h exposure). The exceptional sensitivity of HX/156 to JM216 appears, at least partially, to be a result of enhanced accumulation of JM216. An 8.6-fold acquired cisplatin resistant stable variant of HX/155 has been generated in vitro. Intracellular cisplatin accumulation was reduced by 2.4 +/- 0.3-fold (mean +/- s.d.) in HX/155cisR across the dose range 1-100 microM (2 h exposure). Glutathione levels in HX/155cisR were elevated by 1.3-fold in terms of protein content and by 1.6-fold in terms of cell number. HX/155cisR was 1.9-fold resistant to cadmium chloride. Total platinum bound to DNA after cisplatin exposure (10, 25, 50 or 100 microM for 2 h) was 3.6 +/- 0.6-fold (mean +/- s.d.) lower in HX/155cisR. Hence the mechanism of acquired cisplatin resistance in HX/155cisR appears to be multifocal, with reduced intracellular drug accumulation and elevated glutathione and metallothionein levels combining to reduce DNA platination levels. While HX/155cisR was cross-resistant to tetraplatin and carboplatin, novel platinum (II) and (IV) ammine/amine complexes, including JM216 and JM221, partially circumvented resistance (resistance factors of 1.5-2). Non cross-resistance was observed to iproplatin and nine non-platinum anticancer agents. Intracellular tetraplatin accumulation was reduced by 1.8 +/- 0.1-fold (mean +/- s.d.) in HX/155cisR across the dose range 1-100 microM (2 h exposure). In contrast, after JM216 exposure (1-100 microM for 2 h), no significant difference in intracellular platinum levels between HX/155 and HX/155cisR was observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Sensitivity to novel platinum compounds of panels of human lung cancer cell lines with acquired and inherent resistance to cisplatin.

We have developed panels of human lung cancer cell lines with acquired and inherent resistance to cisplatin. Three parental cell lines, NCI-H69/P (small cell), COR-L23/P (large cell), and MOR/P (adenocarcinoma), were grown in increasing concentrations of cisplatin over a period of 6-9 months. This resulted in the development of sublines, H69/CPR, L23/CPR, and MOR/CPR which were 3- to 8-fold resistant to cisplatin as determined by a 6-day 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. None of the resistant sublines showed a significant change in cellular glutathione content or sensitivity to cadmium chloride (an indicator of metallothionein content), although changes in glutathione-S-transferase activity were seen. The sublines each showed cross-resistance to melphalan. Cisplatin accumulation was unchanged in H69/CPR, 1.3-fold reduced in L23/CPR, and 2.0-fold reduced in MOR/CPR compared with their respective parent lines. In a panel of 10 small cell lung cancer cell lines, there was a 16-fold range of sensitivities to cisplatin. The panels have been used to examine cross-resistance between cisplatin, carboplatin, iproplatin, tetraplatin, and a series of 10 novel ammine/amine dicarboxylate platinum(IV) compounds. Whereas H69/CPR and MOR/CPR showed little or no cross-resistance to any of the other compounds, L23/CPR was generally cross-resistant to all of them. In the panel of small cell lines, whereas the ranking of sensitivity to carboplatin and cisplatin were similar, each of the other compounds provided individual patterns of sensitivity. There was always a wide range of sensitivities among the panel, ranging from 8- to 28-fold. Among the dicarboxylate compounds, there was a great range of potencies, with two compounds (JM273 and JM274) being approximately 100-fold more potent than cisplatin.     

Aberrant mitochondria in two human colon carcinoma cell lines

Electron micrographs of CCL237 and FET cells (two slowly growing, differentiated human colon carcinoma lines) revealed enlarged mitochondria with few cristae. Polarographic measurement of respiratory activity in mitochondria isolated from these cell lines was compared to that of CV-1 cells (a normal monkey kidney epithelial line) and MIP101 cells (another human colon carcinoma line), both of which have mitochondria with a "normal" appearance. The respiratory control ratios of CCL237 and FET mitochondria were found to be considerably lower than those of CV-1 and MIP101 mitochondria (approximately 3 as compared to greater than 10, respectively), indicating that in CCL237 and FET mitochondria the processes of substrate oxidation and phosphorylation of ADP are only loosely coupled. In intact cells, differences in radiolabeled tetraphenylphosphonium uptake showed that the mitochondrial membrane potential in CCL237 and FET cells was less than that in CV-1 and MIP101 cells, and that nigericin failed to hyperpolarize the mitochondria of CCL237 and FET cells. In addition, FET mitochondria exhibited significantly lower ADP-stimulated and uncoupled respiratory rates than mitochondria isolated from the other cell types, indicating that in the former, the capacity for oxidative phosphorylation is somehow impaired. Selective toxicity of FET cells was obtained by treatment with 2-deoxyglucose, an inhibitor of glycolysis, suggesting the possibility of exploiting the phenotype of impaired oxidative metabolism for chemotherapy.     

Single- and double-strand DNA breakage and repair in human lung adenocarcinoma cells exposed to etoposide and teniposide

The anticancer agents 4'-demethylepipodophyllotoxin-4-(4,6-O-ethylidene-beta-D-glucopyra noside (etoposide) (VP16-213) and 4'-demethylepipodophyllotoxin-4-(4,6-O-thenylidene-beta-D-gl ucopyranoside (teniposide) (VM26) produce cytotoxicity by inhibiting type II topoisomerase, resulting in an accumulation of DNA breaks. By using alkaline elution techniques to assess in vivo DNA break frequencies, we have been able to follow formation and repair of both single- and double-strand DNA breaks induced by the exposure of A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells to VP16-213 and VM26. Single-strand DNA breaks are detectable in cells within 2 min of drug exposure, increase in frequency to a maximum after as little as 15 min of exposure, and remain near maximum levels. Double-strand breaks accumulate more slowly, reaching a maximum after 1 to 2 h, and remaining constant thereafter upon continuous exposure to drug. Single-strand DNA breaks predominate at early incubation times and low drug concentrations, whereas the ratios between single- and double-strand DNA breaks decrease at higher drug concentrations. Changing to drug-free medium after 1-h drug exposure results in rapid exponential repair of both single- and double-strand DNA breaks with a time required for repair of one-half of the DNA breaks of 20 to 60 min. VM26 and VP16-213 have similar kinetics for DNA break formation and repair and similar relationships between DNA breakage and cytotoxicity, but VM26 is five to ten times more potent than VP16-213. Results indicate that DNA breakage plateaus may reflect a steady state equilibrium established between the drug and its nuclear target, possibly type II topoisomerase, and demonstrate unique properties of VP16-213- and VM26-induced DNA breakage.     

Non-cross resistance of ZD0473 in acquired cisplatin-resistant lung cancer cell lines

ZD0473 is a new generation platinum agent that, in preclinical studies, shows evidence of an extended spectrum of anti-tumor activity and overcomes platinum resistance mechanisms. The drug contains a bulky methylpyridine ligand at its platinum center, which is responsible for its ability to overcome platinum resistance. We examined the growth inhibitory effects of ZD0473 in human lung cancer cell lines resistant to cisplatin in vitro. Four cisplatin resistant human lung cancer cell lines (PC-14/CDDP, SBC-3/CDDP, PC-9/CDDP, H69/CDDP) showed the expected resistance to cisplatin but were non-cross, or much less, resistant to ZD0473, as determined by an MTT assay. A reduction in the intracellular accumulation of cisplatin, but not of ZD0473, was observed in the PC-14/CDDP cells compared with the levels in PC-14 parental cells. The reduction in cisplatin accumulation is considered a major mechanism of the acquired cisplatin resistance in PC-14/CDDP cells. Therefore, the increase in platinum accumulation is considered a possible mechanism underlying the activity of ZD0473 in cisplatin-resistant cells. Glutathione-mediated resistance to cisplatin was also overcome by ZD0473 in PC-14/CDDP cells. In addition, we showed that the intraperitoneal administration of ZD0473 at its maximum tolerable dose in mice produced a marked in vivo antitumor activity against cisplatin-resistant PC-14/CDDP tumors. These results suggest that ZD0473 may be a potent agent in human lung cancer cells with multifactorial cisplatin resistance.     

Establishment of drug resistance in human gastric and colon carcinoma xenograft lines

We established multidrug-resistant human gastric and colon xenograft lines by means of intratumoral injections of four agents, doxorubicin (DXR), cisplatin (CDDP), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and mitomycin C (MMC), into subcutaneous SC1NU and SW480 tumors once a week or less. Such intermittent drug exposure is commonly used in clinical chemotherapeutic protocols. All xenograft lines acquired resistance to the injected drugs as evaluated by in vivo drug-resistance tests. Many of the drug-resistant lines showed various patterns of cross resistance to other drugs. In order to analyze the mechanism of resistance in vivo, we investigated the expression of drug resistance gene, which has been extensively studied in vitro. We used four complementary DNAs (cDNAs) for multidrug resistance (MDR1), glutathione S-transferase-pi (GST-pi), thymidylate synthase (TS) and dehydrofolate reductase (DHFR), as probes. We observed GST-pi, DHFR and TS mRNA expression at various levels, but MDR1 mRNA expression was found only in SW480/DXR by the method of poly (A+) RNA selection. Four resistant SW480 lines had higher TS mRNA expressions. Six resistant lines had stronger GST-pi mRNA expression. Five resistant lines had higher DHFR mRNA expression. Drug resistance genes related to the treated drug were also expressed in this in vivo model; MDR1 in SW480/DXR, GST-pi in SW480/CDDP and in SC1NU/CDDP and TS in SW480/5-FU. In contrast to in vitro resistant lines which have been reported as models of drug resistance, the expression of drug resistance genes in vivo was not always correlated to the acquisition of cross resistance. These resistant xenograft lines and the methods developed to induce drug resistance in vivo should be useful for studies on the mechanism of drug resistance in the clinical setting.     

Sequence-dependent cytotoxicity of etoposide and paclitaxel in human breast and lung cancer cell lines

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of schedule on the interaction of etoposide with paclitaxel in vitro against the A549 human lung cancer cell line and the MDA-231 and MCF-7 human breast cancer cell lines. Methods: Exposure schedules that were 24-h concurrent, 24-h sequential, and sequential 24-h with a 24-h intervening drug-free period were quantitatively evaluated by the use of the median-effect principle and the combination index. The clonogenic assay was used to assess cytotoxicity, and calculations were done with computer software. Results: Concurrent exposures were less than additive in two of the three cell lines tested. Sequential 24-hour and sequential 24-h with an intervening 24-h drug-free period showed synergism at high effect levels in all three cell lines. Similar synergistic interactions were found when either agent was administered first. Conclusions: These results show a schedule-dependent cytotoxic interaction between etoposide and paclitaxel in the human lung and breast cancer cell lines evaluated, with optimal synergism occurring with sequential, but not with concurrent, treatment. Received: 19 December 1996 / Accepted: 13 October 1997     

Schedule-dependent interactions between paclitaxel and etoposide in human carcinoma cell lines in vitro

 Clinical studies of paclitaxel in combination with etoposide against solid tumors have been carried out. The combination schedules used in these studies are different. We studied the cytotoxic effects of paclitaxel with etoposide against four human cancer cell lines in vitro to determine the optimal schedule of this combination at the cellular level. Cells were exposed simultaneously to paclitaxel and to etoposide for 24 h or sequentially to one drug for 24 h followed by the other for 24 h, after which they were incubated in drug-free medium for 4 and 3 days, respectively. Cell growth inhibition was determined by an MTT reduction assay. The effects of drug combinations at concentrations producing 80% inhibition (IC₈₀) were analyzed by the isobologram method of Steel and Peckham. The cytotoxic effect of paclitaxel and etoposide was cell line- and schedule-dependent. Simultaneous exposure to paclitaxel and etoposide for 24 h produced additive effects in the lung cancer cell line A549 and ovarian cancer PA1 cells, and antagonistic effects in the breast cancer cell line MCF7 and colon cancer WIDr cells. Sequential exposures to paclitaxel followed by etoposide and vice versa produced additive effects in all four cell lines. These results suggest that maximum cytotoxic effects can be obtained with sequential administration, but not simultaneous administration, of paclitaxel and etoposide. These findings may have important clinical implications for this combination. Received: 11 August 1998 / Accepted: 8 March 1999     

Novel plant triterpenoid drug amooranin overcomes multidrug resistance in human leukemia and colon carcinoma cell lines

Amooranin (AMR), a plant terpenoid, isolated from Amoora rohituka, was investigated for its ability to overcome multidrug resistance in human leukemia and colon carcinoma cell lines. AMR IC(50) values of multidrug-resistant leukemia (CEM/VLB) and colon carcinoma (SW620/Ad-300) cell lines were higher (1.9- and 6-fold) than parental sensitive cell lines (CEM and SW620). AMR induced G(2)+M phase-arrest during cell cycle traverse in leukemia and colon carcinoma cell lines and the percentage of cells in G(2)+M phase increased in a dose-dependent manner. Coincubation of tumor cells with both DOX and AMR reversed DOX resistance in 104-fold DOX-resistant CEM/VLB and 111-fold DOX-resistant SW620/Ad-300 cell lines with a dose modification factor of 50.9 and 99.6, respectively. Flow cytometric assay showed that AMR causes enhanced cellular DOX accumulation in a dose-dependent manner. AMR inhibits photolabeling of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) with [(3)H]-azidopine and the blocking effect enhanced with increasing concentrations of AMR. Our results show that AMR competitively inhibits P-gp-mediated DOX efflux, suggestive of a mechanism underlying the enhanced DOX accumulation and reversal of multidrug resistance by AMR.     

Determinants of response to the DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors doxorubicin and etoposide in human lung cancer cell lines.

BACKGROUND: Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is more sensitive to anticancer agents than non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but few studies have analyzed the mechanisms of natural drug resistance responsible for this difference. PURPOSE: To elucidate these mechanisms, we determined drug sensitivity and evaluated the biochemical parameters affecting response to the DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors doxorubicin and etoposide in both types of cancer cell lines, in particular the activity and content of DNA topoisomerase II, as well as etoposide uptake and cell doubling time. METHODS: Drug sensitivity and cellular uptake of etoposide were determined by clonogenic assay and accumulation of radiolabeled drug, respectively. The topoisomerase II activity was assayed by decatenation of kinetoplast DNA to minicircle DNA using nuclear protein, and the content was determined by immunoblot analysis of nuclear extracts. We also compared the topoisomerase II content in parent cell lines with that in lines with cisplatin resistance acquired in vitro. RESULTS: Sensitivities to doxorubicin and etoposide were higher in SCLC cell lines than in NSCLC lines, and the difference was statistically significant. Etoposide uptake in SCLC cells was higher than in NSCLC cells; the difference was statistically significant, but this difference may not be sufficient to account for the variation in sensitivities of the cell lines. Topoisomerase II activities of nuclear protein from SCLC cell lines were reproducibly twofold higher than those for NSCLC cell lines. The topoisomerase II content in nuclear protein appeared to be higher in SCLC cell lines than in NSCLC cell lines and corresponded to the sensitivities to doxorubicin and etoposide. In the cisplatin-resistant NSCLC cell lines PC-7/CDDP and PC-14/CDDP, the topoisomerase II content was increased compared with that in the parent lines, but the topoisomerase II content in other cisplatin-sensitive parent lines was similar to that in resistant sublines. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the topoisomerase II activity and content may be major factors in determining sensitivity to topoisomerase II inhibitors.     

Mechanisms of acquired resistance to the quinazoline thymidylate synthase inhibitor ZD1694 (Tomudex) in one mouse and three human cell lines.

Four cell lines, the mouse L1210 leukaemia, the human W1L2 lymphoblastoid and two human ovarian (CH1 and 41M) cell lines, were made resistant to ZD1694 (Tomudex) by continual exposure to incremental doses of the drug. A 500-fold increase in thymidylate synthase (TS) activity is the primary mechanism of resistance to ZD1694 in the W1L2:RD1694 cell line, which is consequently highly cross-resistant to other folate-based TS inhibitors, including BW1843U89, LY231514 and AG337, but sensitive to antifolates with other enzyme targets. The CH1:RD1694 cell line is 14-fold resistant to ZD1694, largely accounted for by the 4.2-fold increase in TS activity. Cross-resistance was observed to other TS inhibitors, including 5-fluorodeoxyuridine (FdUrd). 41M:RD1694 cells, when exposed to 0.1 microM [3H]ZD1694, accumulated approximately 20-fold less 3H-labelled material over 24 h than the parental line. Data are consistent with this being the result of impaired transport of the drug via the reduced folate/methotrexate carrier. Resistance was therefore observed to methotrexate but not to CB3717, a compound known to use this transport mechanism poorly. The mouse L1210:RD1694 cell line does not accumulate ZD1694 or Methotrexate (MTX) polyglutamates. Folylpolyglutamate synthetase substrate activity (using ZD1694 as the substrate) was decreased to approximately 13% of that observed in the parental line. Cross-resistance was found to those compounds known to be active through polyglutamation.     

Characterization of acquired resistance to cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II) in BE human colon carcinoma cells

To study mechanisms underlying resistance to cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II) (cis-DDP) we have induced resistance to this agent in BE human colon carcinoma cells. A 5-fold increase in the IC50 of resistant compared to sensitive cells was noted as analyzed by the inhibition of cellular growth. Up to a 4-fold reduction in interstrand cross-link formation by cis-DDP in resistant compared to sensitive cells was present as measured by alkaline elution. No significant differences were detectable either in the extent of DNA platination as analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopy or in the induction of cis-DDP DNA adducts as evaluated by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay employing antiserum that detects intrastrand cross-links formed by cis-DDP. Further, no differences in the kinetics of excision of DNA interstrand cross-links, cis-DDP DNA adducts, or total platinum in DNA were present. Levels of glutathione, however, were increased about threefold in resistant compared to sensitive cells. Loss of resistance was associated with increased interstrand cross-link formation and declines in glutathione levels. Our results are consistent with a critical role of glutathione in preventing platinum monoadduct rearrangements resulting in lower levels of interstrand cross-links and resistance to cis-DDP in resistant BE cells.     

Mechanisms of acquired resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors in non-small cell lung cancer.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors gefitinib and erlotinib are effective therapies for non-small cell lung cancer patients whose tumors harbor somatic mutations in EGFR. All patients, however, ultimately develop resistance to these agents. Thus, there is a great need to understand how patients become resistant to develop effective therapies for these cancers. Studies over the last few years have identified two different EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance mechanisms, a secondary mutation in EGFR, EGFR 790M, and amplification of the MET oncogene. These findings have led to clinical trials using newly designed targeted therapies that can overcome these resistance mechanisms and have shown promise in laboratory studies. Ongoing research efforts will likely continue to identify additional resistance mechanisms, and these findings will hopefully translate into effective therapies for non-small cell lung cancer patients.     

Growth factor production by human colon carcinoma cell lines

Conditioned media collected under serum-free conditions over 24 to 48 h from 18 human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines were analyzed for transforming growth factor, types alpha and beta (TGF-alpha and -beta), and platelet-derived growth factor in assays for anchorage-independent growth and radioreceptor competition. Detectable levels of TGF-alpha, TGF-beta, and platelet-derived growth factor were produced by 17, 16, and 6 cell lines, respectively. Three liters of conditioned medium from highly tumorigenic (HT-29, DLD-1, and SW620) and nontumorigenic (SKCO-1) colon cell lines and from nonneoplastic rat kidney (NRK-52E) and small intestinal (IEC-6) epithelial cells were purified by high-performance liquid chromatography and assayed for TGF-alpha- and TGF-beta-like activity. The highly tumorigenic colon cell lines produced 10- to 45-fold (soft agar), 19- to 90-fold (radioreceptor), and 4- to 35-fold (radioimmunoassay) more TGF-alpha activity compared to the nonneoplastic rat intestinal (IEC) epithelial cells. NRK-52E did not produce detectable TGF-alpha activity. Radioimmunoassay analysis of peak fractions revealed only TGF-alpha immunoreactivity; epidermal growth factor was not detected. Levels of TGF-beta-like material in the colon carcinoma populations were comparable (HT-29) or elevated (DLD-1, SW620) only 3- to 4-fold (soft agar) or 1- to 3-fold (radioreceptor binding) compared to IEC cells or NRK-52E. Growth factor production is an ubiquitous property of colon carcinoma cell lines maintained in vitro and is consistent with this class of molecule, playing a contributory role in regulating cell growth.