Mechanisms of resistance to alkylating agents.
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Alkylating Agents↗
Biomedical subjects
O M Colvin
Publications and source records attributed to O M Colvin.
Cytotoxicity of taxol in vitro against human and rat malignant brain tumors.
Taxol is a novel antitumor alkaloid that has shown clinical activity against several tumors, including ovarian and breast carcinoma and melanoma. To evaluate taxol's potential as a therapy for malignant brain tumors, we measured the sensitivity of four human (U87, U373, H80, and D324) and two rat (9L, F98) brain-tumor cell lines to taxol. The cells were exposed to taxol in vitro using a clonogenic assay. Log cell kill (LD90) occurred at concentrations of 42 (9L), 25 (F98), 19 (H80), 7.2 (U373), 9.1 (U87), and 3.9 nM (D324) when cells were continuously exposed to taxol for 6-8 days. The human cell lines were uniformly more sensitive to taxol than were the rat lines. The duration of exposure had a significant effect on taxol's cytotoxicity. When cells were exposed to taxol for 1 h the LD90 increased to 890 nM for the 9L rat line and 280 nM for the human U373 line. On the basis of these results, we conclude that taxol has significant potency in vitro against malignant brain tumors and that the activity occurs at concentrations of taxol that have previously been shown to be effective for several tumors against which the drug is currently being evaluated clinically.
Animals↗
Busulfan therapy of central nervous system xenografts in athymic mice.
We evaluated the antitumor activity of busulfan against a panel of tumor cell lines and xenografts in athymic nude mice derived from childhood high-grade glioma, adult high-grade glioma, ependymoma, and medulloblastoma. Busulfan displayed similar activity against a panel of four medulloblastoma cell lines (D283 Med, Daoy, D341 Med, and D425 Med) and four corresponding sublines with laboratory-generated or clinically acquired resistance to 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide [D283 Med (4-HCR), Daoy (4-HCR), D341 Med (4-HCR), and D458 Med] and cross-resistance to melphalan. This is consistent with a nearly total lack of cross-resistance of busulfan to 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide. Busulfan was active in the therapy of all but one of the subcutaneous xenografts tested, with growth delays ranging from 14.3 days in D612 EP to 58.4 days in D528 EP. Busulfan produced statistically significant increases in the median survival of mice bearing intracranial D456 MG (66%-90%), D612 EP (18%-33%), and D528 EP (89%) xenografts. These studies suggest that busulfan may be active against medulloblastomas, high-grade gliomas, and ependymomas as well as against cyclophosphamide-resistant neoplasms.
Animals↗
Protonation of phosphoramide mustard and other phosphoramides.
The chemistry of the bifunctional alkylating agent phosphoramide mustard and model phosphoramides was probed by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy as a function of pH. Between pH 1 and 11, both the 31P and 15N resonances for phosphoramide mustard displayed a single monobasic titration curve with a pKa of 4.9. The protonation below pH 4.9 correlates with the loss in reactivity of the mustard. The 17O NMR spectrum of 17O-enriched phosphoramide mustard shows little change with pH. The data on the mustard was compared to 15N and 31P NMR data on 15N-enriched phosphoramidic acid, phosphorodiamidic acid, and phosphoric triamide. Contrary to the conclusions of previous studies, our combined 31P, 15N, and 17O NMR results are more consistent with N-protonation of phosphoramide mustard rather than an O-protonation. Theoretical calculations on the phosphoramidic acid, phosphorodiamidic acid, and phosphoric triamide show O-protonation to be more stable in the gas phase. For the latter two compounds, the calculations suggest that N-protonation may be the most stable protonated form in the aqueous phase. These findings influence our understanding of the structure-activity relationships of phosphoramide mustards.
Amides↗
Intraarterial therapy of human glioma xenografts in athymic rats using 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide.
The addition of chemotherapy, notably using nitrosoureas, in the treatment of patients with glioblastoma multiforme has resulted in only modest improvements in long-term patient survival over the use of surgical intervention and irradiation alone. Intraarterial (i.a.) chemotherapy offers the potential benefit of increasing tumor drug delivery because of first-pass drug uptake, while minimizing systemic drug levels and toxicity. We have now investigated the i.a. therapy of intracerebral human glioma xenografts in athymic rats with 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide (4-HC), a preactivated derivative of cyclophosphamide. Athymic male rats were given intracerebral injections of the human glioma line D-54 MG. On Day 5 after injection, the rats were randomized (n = 8-10) by body weight (mean weight, approximately 300 g). In one set of experiments, each group received either i.v. saline, i.a. saline, 6 mg i.a. 4-HC, 6 mg i.v. 4-HC (6 mg), or 12 mg i.v. 4-HC. Intraarterial 4-HC produced significant increases in median survival (Day 24) compared with i.a. saline controls (140% increase), equivalent doses given i.v. (71% increase), and twice the equivalent dose given i.v. (50% increase) (by Wilcoxon rank sum analysis, P < 0.05 is statistically significant). The i.a. maximum tolerated dose was subsequently determined to be approximately 12.5 mg in non-tumor-bearing rats. Further experiments demonstrated a dose-response increase in survival for i.a. dosages of 6, 9, and 12.5 mg with significant improvement when compared with saline controls and 12.5 mg i.v. Pharmacokinetic experiments also demonstrated a significant first-pass uptake advantage for i.a. (versus i.v.) administered 4-HC. The short plasma half-life and marked antiglioma activity of 4-HC, without the need for hepatic activation, suggest a therapeutic application of this drug in the i.a. treatment of brain tumors.
Animals↗
Role of glutathione in cellular resistance to alkylating agents.
Both elevated glutathione levels and increased activity of the enzyme glutathione S-transferase have been associated with the resistance of cells to alkylating agents. We have demonstrated that one mechanism of this resistance is the inactivation of the alkylating agents by conjugation with glutathione. This conjugation can be catalyzed by glutathione S-transferase. For the nitrogen mustard agents we have studied, both the spontaneous and enzyme catalyzed reactions proceed through the aziridinium intermediates of the alkylating agents, and the alpha isoenzymes of GST are involved. In a study of cyclophosphamide resistant medulloblastoma cell lines elevated cellular concentrations of glutathione correlated well with the resistance of the cell lines.
Alkylating Agents↗
Cardiac cell toxicity induced by 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide is modulated by glutathione.
OBJECTIVE: Cardiac myocytes were exposed to 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide (4-HC, an activated derivative of cyclophosphamide) to assess whether early ionic events are associated with the dose limiting toxicity of this chemotherapeutic agent. METHODS: Primary cultures of embryonic chick cardiac myocytes were grown to confluency and then exposed to a medium containing 4-HC. Cellular sodium, potassium, and calcium contents were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry and related to protein and ATP content. Pretreatment of the cultured heart cells with glutathione depleting or enhancing agents provided the basis for evaluating the involvement of glutathione in the 4-HC-induced cytotoxicity. RESULTS: Administration of 150 microM 4-HC to cardiac myocytes resulted in increases in cellular sodium and calcium contents and decreases in potassium, ATP, and protein contents. Pretreatment of cardiac myocytes with L-buthionine-SR-sulphoximine, a specific inhibitor of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase, depleted cellular glutathione to 12% of control and significantly reduced the minimum concentration of 4-HC causing cytotoxic changes. Conversely, elevation of cellular thiol content by the pretreatment of cardiac myocytes with glutathione monoethyl ester (but not glutathione) provided protection against 4-HC induced cytotoxicity. CONCLUSIONS: Cellular glutahione concentration can markedly influence the 4-HC induced changes in cellular ion content and ATP, which are early indicators of 4-HC induced cytotoxicity.
Adenosine Triphosphate↗
Effect of 4-(diethylamino)benzaldehyde on ethanol metabolism in mice.
The compound 4-(diethylamino)benzaldehyde (DEAB) is a potent inhibitor of cytosolic (class 1) aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) in vitro and can overcome cyclophosphamide resistance in murine leukemia cells characterized by their high content of ALDH. In this study, we examined the in vivo effect of DEAB in mice on ethanol metabolism and on antipyrine clearance as a measure of the microsomal mixed function oxidase activity. DEAB administered in doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg increased the blood acetaldehyde concentration and decreased the plasma acetate concentration in mice treated with ethanol. A pharmacokinetic approach demonstrated that DEAB in doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg inhibited the fraction of ethanol converted to acetate by 32.5 and 67.5%, respectively. This inhibition was comparable with that produced by disulfiram. DEAB produced optimal inhibition of ALDH 10-15 min after administration. DEAB did not change the half-life or the total clearance of antipyrine. We conclude that DEAB is a potent inhibitor of ALDH in vivo and has no effect on the mixed function oxidase activity as determined by antipyrine clearance.
Acetaldehyde↗
Autologous bone marrow transplant in acute myeloid leukemia in first remission.
PURPOSE: The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group conducted a prospective study of postremission high-dose chemotherapy and autologous bone marrow transplantation (autoBMT) in a group of uniformly treated adults with de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML) to evaluate whether intensive, myeloablative therapy in first complete remission (CR) could improve the disease-free survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS: After initial CR was induced by the combination of daunorubicin, cytarabine, and thioguanine, patients not eligible for allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (alloBMT) were offered autoBMT. Within a median of 2 months after CR, and without intervening postremission therapy, bone marrow was obtained, purged by exposure to 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide (4-HC), and cryopreserved. High-dose therapy consisted of oral busulfan over 4 days (16 mg/kg total) followed by intravenous (IV) cyclophosphamide 50 mg/kg daily for 4 days. The cryopreserved marrow was then reinfused. RESULTS: Of the 39 patients scheduled for autoBMT, four relapsed before transplantation. Two of the 35 (6%) transplant patients died of transplant-related complications, and 11 (33%) relapsed a median of 8 months after marrow reinfusion. No relapse has occurred after 24 months posttransplant. With a median follow-up of 31 months, the median disease-free survival period for all 39 patients has not been reached; however, 54% +/- 16% of patients are projected to be alive and disease-free at 3 years. CONCLUSION: Long-term, disease-free survival after autoBMT in AML seems to be better than the outcome after conventional-dose postremission therapy and rivals the results of alloBMT.
Adolescent↗
Intrathecal 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide: neurotoxicity, cerebrospinal fluid pharmacokinetics, and antitumor activity in a rabbit model of VX2 leptomeningeal carcinomatosis.
Dissemination of tumor to the leptomeninges and cerebrospinal fluid represents a common pattern of metastasis for many cancers; however, few chemotherapeutic agents are available for intrathecal (i.t.) use and treatment results are often poor. We studied the neurotoxicity and pharmacokinetics of i.t. 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide (4-HC) in the rabbit and the activity of i.t. 4-HC in a VX2 rabbit model of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis to evaluate the potential use of 4-HC in the treatment of leptomeningeal tumors. Toxicity studies examined 4-HC doses ranging from 0.5 to 6.0 mumol administered by intraventricular injection weekly for 4 to 8 weeks. Clinical or histological neurotoxicity was not observed in rabbits treated with < 1.0 mumol 4-HC for 4 weeks. Clinical toxicity, characterized by lethargy, weight loss, seizures, or death, was apparent at doses > 2.0 mumol. Vasculitis of superficial arteries was observed in rabbits treated with > 1.0 mumol 4-HC. In cerebrospinal fluid pharmacokinetic studies, the mean drug half-life after intraventricular or intralumbar administration was 24.3 and 18.2 min. Regional inequities in drug exposure were apparent as area under the clearance curve values for cerebrospinal fluid distant from the injection site were lower than those of proximate sites (P < 0.001). Weekly intraventricular treatment of VX2 leptomeningeal tumor-bearing rabbits with 0.5 or 1.0 mumol of 4-HC resulted in an increased life span of 22.5 and 35%, respectively. These results indicate that i.t. 4-HC, at doses lower than those producing neurotoxicity in the rabbit, is effective treatment for VX2 leptomeningeal carcinomatosis.
Animals↗
The effect of an amino acid-lowering diet on the rate of melphalan entry into brain and xenotransplanted glioma.
Melphalan (L-phenylalanine mustard, L-PAM, alkeran; molecular weight, 305,000) is transported across tumor cell membranes and the blood-brain barrier by the large neutral amino acid (LNAA) transport system. Normally, plasma LNAA levels are high enough and the affinity low enough that this system does not transport much melphalan into the brain. However, plasma amino acids can be reduced by fasting and protein-free diet. We used this method to reduce competition and to increase melphalan transport into brain tumors. In nude mice fasted for 12 h and then fed a protein-free diet for 2 and 6 h, mean plasma LNAA levels were 46% and 42% of control values. Nude mice with xenotransplanted D-54MG human gliomas were used to study tissue distribution and uptake kinetics of [3H]melphalan in a control group and a diet group (after a 12-h fast and 2 h of a 0% protein diet). The K1 (blood-to-tissue transfer constant) of melphalan, determined by graphical analysis and by nonlinear fitting to a 2-compartment model, was higher in the diet group in all tumor regions except the necrotic center of subcutaneous tumors; the increase was significant in the tumor periphery of brain and s.c. tumors. The ratio of K1s (diet to control) varied from 1.2 to 1.3 in brain tumors, 1.9 to 2.1 in subcutaneous tumors, and 1.8 to 3.1 in tumor-free brain. The apparent [3H]melphalan distribution space was significantly higher in the tumor periphery of both brain and subcutaneous tumors of the 15- and 30-min diet group. We also measured blood-brain barrier transport of [alpha-14C]aminoisobutyric acid and blood flow (with [131I]iodoantipyrine): the K1 of [alpha-14C]aminoisobutyric acid was 28.1 +/- 6.6 (SE) in brain tumors and 24.3 +/- 8.9 microliters/g/min in subcutaneous tumors. Blood flow was 58.2 --> 3.9 in brain tumors and 5.2 +/- 0.4 ml/100 g/min in subcutaneous tumors. Fasting, when combined with a protein-free diet, reduces plasma amino acid levels and thereby reduces competition between melphalan and LNAAs. This may increase the amount of melphalan that can enter a brain tumor without increasing the administered drug dose and suggests a therapeutic manipulation that can be used to increase the delivery of melphalan.
Amino Acid Transport Systems↗
Cyclophosphamide resistance in medulloblastoma.
Mechanisms of tumor resistance to 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide (4-HC) were studied by using a panel of human medulloblastoma cell lines either passaged in the laboratory for resistance to 4-HC or established from tumors showing clinical resistance to cyclophosphamide. Multiple distinct mechanisms of resistance were demonstrated. Daoy (4-HCR), a line that was 6-fold more resistant than Daoy, contained elevated levels of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). Most of the difference in sensitivity between the Daoy (4-HCR) and Daoy cell lines was abolished when 4-HC was replaced with phenylketocyclophosphamide, a 4-HC analogue that cannot be detoxified by ALDH. Thus, elevated levels of ALDH appear to play a role in the resistance of Daoy (4-HCR). Several of the cell lines [D283 Med (4-HCR), D341 Med (4-HCR), Daoy (4-HCR), D458 Med] contained elevated levels of glutathione (GSH). No changes in glutathione-S-transferase activity or isozyme pattern were observed, but in two of these three lines, the elevation in GSH was accompanied by elevated levels of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. To confirm the role of elevated GSH content in 4-HC resistance, the sensitivity of the cell lines to 4-HC was repeated after depletion of GSH by treatment with L-buthionine-S,R-sulfoximine. In medulloblastoma cell lines without other mechanisms of resistance, a linear relationship was seen between GSH content and resistance to 4-HC. Moreover, cells with GSH content greater than 5 nmol/mg protein and no other overriding mechanism of resistance could be sensitized to 4-HC treatment with L-buthionine-S,R-sulfoximine. Finally, D283 Med (4-HCR) cells had mild elevations in both ALDH and GSH content, but were resistant to phenylketocyclophosphamide and were not significantly sensitized by L-buthionine-S,R-sulfoximine. This cell line appears to demonstrate a third mechanism of resistance to 4-HC. These results suggest that 4-HC resistance in medulloblastoma can be multifactorial.
Aldehyde Dehydrogenase↗
Thalidomide for the treatment of chronic graft-versus-host disease.
BACKGROUND: Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation is an accepted therapy for hematologic cancer, aplastic anemia, and inherited immunodeficiencies. Chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is the principal complication in patients surviving more than 100 days. Thalidomide has been shown experimentally to be effective in treating GVHD. METHODS: We treated 23 patients with chronic GVHD refractory to conventional treatment and 21 patients with "high-risk" chronic GVHD (identified as having at least two of the following three risk factors: chronic GVHD that has evolved from acute GVHD, lichenoid skin or mucous-membrane changes, and hepatic dysfunction. Such patients have a high mortality rate.) with thalidomide in a dose that produced a plasma level of 5 micrograms per milliliter two hours after administration. Therapy was continued for three months after a complete response or for six months after a partial response. RESULTS: The overall actuarial survival of all enrolled patients was 64 percent. Survival was 76 percent among the patients receiving salvage therapy for refractory GVHD and 48 percent among those with high-risk GVHD. A complete response was observed in 14 patients, a partial response in 12 patients, and no response in 18. Side effects were minor, most notably sedation in almost all patients. CONCLUSIONS: In this preliminary trial, thalidomide appeared to be safe and effective for the treatment of chronic GVHD. A trial comparing thalidomide with prednisone in patients with newly diagnosed chronic GVHD will be required to demonstrate its relative efficacy.
Adolescent↗
Hepsulfam sensitivity in human breast cancer cell lines: the role of glutathione and glutathione S-transferase in resistance.
Hepsulfam (NSC 329680, 1,7-heptanediol disulfamate) is an alkylating agent that showed excellent activity against mouse and human mammary carcinoma in preclinical studies. We therefore studied the cytotoxicity of this drug in six human breast cancer cell lines (AdrRMCF7, WTMCF7, Hs578T, MDA-MB-231, T47D, and MDA-MB-468). Clonogenic assays of these cell lines showed a range of sensitivity with the 90% inhibitory concentration ranging from 3.1 microM hepsulfam (MDA-MB-468) to 32.3 microM hepsulfam (AdrRMCF7) after 24-h exposure to the drug. To evaluate possible mechanisms responsible for this observed variation in sensitivity to hepsulfam, we have studied glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity and glutathione (GSH) in these cell lines. Total cytoplasmic GST activity correlated with sensitivity; the most sensitive cell lines had the lowest GST activity, while the two most resistant cell lines, AdrRMCF7 and Hs578T, had the highest GST levels of the six cell lines. Western blot analysis showed that the only detectable isoenzyme was GST-pi. The amount of GST-pi isoform correlated with hepsulfam sensitivity in the three most resistant cell lines and was undetectable in the three most sensitive cell lines. Cellular concentrations of GSH did not correlate with hepsulfam sensitivity. However, GSH depletion with buthionine sulfoximine increased sensitivity to hepsulfam in a dose-dependent fashion in all six cell lines. Evaluation by mass spectrometry revealed that glutathione can form conjugates with hepsulfam. We conclude that the GST/GSH detoxication system plays a role in the sensitivity of these breast cancer cell lines to hepsulfam.
Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic↗
Improvements in solubility and stability of thalidomide upon complexation with hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin.
Thalidomide is in clinical use for the treatment of graft-versus-host disease in leukemia patients after bone marrow transplant. Low levels of the drug in plasma after oral administration have made an intravenous thalidomide formulation desirable. Thalidomide, however, is sparingly soluble in aqueous solution (50 micrograms/mL) and unstable. Complexation with hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin has significantly improved the aqueous solubility and stability of thalidomide. Results obtained with HPLC and 1H NMR spectrometry have demonstrated that the solubility is increased to 1.7 mg/mL and the half-life of a diluted solution is extended from 2.1 to 4.1 h. Hence, an intravenous thalidomide-hydroxypropyl- beta-cyclodextrin solution has the potential to significantly improve current therapy for graft-versus-host disease by providing sustained high levels of drug in the plasma.
Cyclodextrins↗
Cytogenetic mechanisms in the selective toxicity of cyclophosphamide analogs and metabolites towards avian embryonic B lymphocytes in vivo.
Cyclophosphamide (CP) is selectively toxic to avian and mammalian B lymphocytes, but the mechanisms of action are incompletely understood. We used a structure-activity approach to determine the cytogenetic mechanisms underlying the selective lymphoid toxicity in chicken embryos at 18-19 days of incubation. Two doses of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU; 3 mg/200 microliters x 2) were pipetted onto the inner shell membrane to label lymphocyte DNA over 20 h. A single dose of the CP analogs or metabolites was given 1 h after the initial BrdU application. After a terminal 3-h exposure to demecolcine to block cells in metaphase, the embryos were sacrificed at hour 20, and their bursae and thymi were removed for cytogenetic processing. Microscope slide preparations of metaphases were stained by the fluorescence-plus-Giemsa technique to differentiate the sister chromatids for an assessment of sister-chromatid exchange (SCE) induction and cell cycle progression based on replication cycle-specific staining patterns. Isophosphamide (1.25-40 mg/kg), phosphoramide mustard (0.7-45.7 mg/kg), and 4-methylcyclophosphamide (1.3-42.1 mg/kg) selectively damaged B cells as shown by dose-related reductions in the mitotic activity, inhibition of cell cycle kinetics, and approximately 9-15-fold increases in the SCE frequency above control. B cells were up to 392 times more susceptible to the toxicity of these three bifunctional alkylating agents compared to T cells based on reductions in the mitotic activity. At most of the drug doses tested, the T-cell mitotic index was not depressed significantly and was usually higher than the control value by as much as 50-60%. Importantly, monochloroethylcyclophosphamide (70-245 mg/kg; monofunctional alkylation) did not induce differential lymphoid toxicity, although a 9-fold increase in the SCE frequency of B cells was observed at the highest dose. Didechlorocyclophosphamide (181-422 mg/kg; acrolein generation only) was a weak SCE inducer (approximately 1.8-fold increase) and was not selectively toxic to B cells. Our data show that selective toxicity to B lymphocytes is strongly associated with bifunctional alkylation via the chloroethyl groups rather than with monofunctional alkylation and acrolein-mediated damage. In addition, the results with phosphoramide mustard and 4-methylcyclophosphamide emphasize that aldehyde dehydrogenase activity is not the primary determinant in the relative sparing of T lymphocytes in vivo.
Animals↗
The intracerebral distribution of BCNU delivered by surgically implanted biodegradable polymers.
The local concentration and distribution of 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) within normal brain tissue were studied following surgical implantation of biodegradable polymer containing BCNU in New Zealand White rabbits. Cylindrical discs of poly(bis(p-carboxyphenoxy)-propane:sebacic acid) copolymer in a 20:80 formulation were made containing [3H]-inulin or [3H]-BCNU labeled in the methylene hydrogens of the chloroethyl groups. These were implanted in the brains of 56 New Zealand White rabbits. The animals were sacrificed 3, 7, 14, or 21 days later and the brains were rapidly removed, frozen, and prepared for quantitative autoradiography. Autoradiographs from coronal sections bisecting the polymer were analyzed to determine both the proportion of the brain section exposed to the tracer and the local drug concentrations as a function of distance from the polymer. Tritiated BCNU was also injected directly into the brains of eight additional rabbits, and local brain concentrations were studied over time. The results of this study demonstrate that approximately 50% of the area of the brain sections was exposed to radiolabeled compound 3 days after BCNU-polymer implantation, 15% at 7 days, and less than 10% at 14 and 21 days. Polymer discs containing 600 micrograms BCNU generated 6 mM concentrations of BCNU in brain tissue 10 mm from the polymer at 3 and 7 days. Pharmacological studies demonstrated that approximately 25% of the tritium label was associated with intact BCNU 3 days following polymer implantation. Radiolabeled inulin delivered by polymer remained dispersed throughout the ipsilateral hemisphere for 14 days. Direct injection of [3H]-BCNU into brain parenchyma resulted in widely distributed tracer at 1 and 3 hours with rapid disappearance thereafter. It is concluded that local delivery of BCNU to brain tissue with this polymeric drug delivery system results in sustained high local concentrations of BCNU which may be of value in the treatment of patients with brain tumors.
Animals↗
Structure and expression of the cytosolic aldehyde dehydrogenase gene in cyclophosphamide-resistant murine leukemia L1210 cells.
These investigations were performed to clarify the molecular basis for the enhanced expression of cytosolic aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH-1) enzymatic activity in the cyclophosphamide-resistant L1210/CPA murine leukemia cell line, as compared to the parental L1210/O strain. Western immunoblot analysis was performed using a 15-fold greater quantity of cytosolic protein from the L1210/O as compared to the L1210/CPA cell line. Nevertheless, ALDH-1 immunoreactive protein could be detected only in the L1210/CPA cells. Northern analyses, performed using total cellular and polyadenylated RNA, again demonstrated ALDH-1-specific transcripts only in the L1210/CPA cell line. This transcript was identical in size to the ALDH-1 message expressed by normal murine hepatocytes. On Southern analysis, no evidence of gene amplification, gene rearrangement, or significant mutations of length was detected. These studies suggest that the ALDH-1 protein produced by the L1210/CPA cell line is structurally normal. Moreover, overexpression of the gene does not appear to have arisen as a result of an incremental process, such as gene amplification. Rather, a qualitative abnormality in the regulation of this gene appears to exist in the L1210/CPA cells, which distinguishes them from L1210/O cells and from normal murine lymphocytes.
Aldehyde Dehydrogenase↗