The inhibition of DNA synthesis in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia cells by chlorambucil in vitro

The inhibition of 3H-thymidine incorporation into the DNA of mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia by chlorambucil was measured in vitro and the results related to clinical drug resistance. The assay proved to be both sensitive and specific showing a clear separation of those patients with responsive disease from those with disease resistant to treatment. There was evidence of primary drug resistance in untreated patients. In almost all patients who received treatment this led to increasing resistance to chlorambucil in vitro. The assay is predictive of clinical responsiveness and provides a potential means whereby new therapeutic agents and treatment modifiers may be investigated.

Nitrogen mustard-DNA interaction in melphalan-resistant mammary carcinoma cells with elevated intracellular glutathione and glutathione-S-transferase activity

We examined the relationship between intracellular levels of glutathione (GSH), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity, and the kinetics of DNA cross-links induced by the bifunctional alkylating drugs melphalan (MLN), chlorambucil (CLB), and mechlorethamine (HN2) in a rat mammary carcinoma cell line (WT) and in a subline selected in vitro for primary resistance to MLN (MLNr, 16-fold resistance). MLNr cells exhibit a 2-fold increase in intracellular GSH concentration and an approximately 5-fold increase in GST activity as compared with the parent cells. They are cross-resistant to a variety of drugs, including CLB (6-fold) and HN2 (14-fold). Treatment of WT cells with 30 microM MLN or CLB induced a significant accumulation of DNA-DNA cross-links for up to 8 h, which decreased over a 24-h period. In MLNr cells, no significant cross-link formation was induced by either MLN of CLB at any time between 0 and 24 h. Doses of up to 100 microM MLN failed to induce cross-links in MLNr cells. Formation of cross-links was observed immediately after treatment with HN2 in both cell lines and was followed by a subsequent decrease during a 24-h incubation in drug-free medium. At an equimolar concentration (30 microM), the numbers of HN2-induced cross-links were significantly lower in MLNr cells than in WT cells. However, treatment of MLNr cells with 60 microM HN2 resulted in cross-link levels similar to those obtained using 30 microM HN2 in WT cells. The 35% decrease in MLN accumulation observed in MLNr cells could not entirely explain the absence of cross-links, since thin-layer chromatographic analysis demonstrated that both cell lines accumulate a significant amount of MLN and metabolize it to the same extent. Significant amounts of MLN were also detected in nuclei isolated from WT and MLNr cells that had been treated with 30 microM [14C]-MLN. Intracellular depletion of GSH by a nontoxic concentration of L-buthionine-(S, R)-sulfoximine (BSO, 100 microM; about 70% GSH depletion) significantly sensitized MLNr cells to MLN and increased cross-link formation. A nontoxic concentration (50 microM) of ethacrynic acid (EA, an inhibitor of GST showing some specificity for Yc/Yp subunits) also sensitized MLNr cells to MLN and increased cross-link formation. Our data demonstrate that both EA and BSO are effective modulators of nitrogen mustard cytotoxicity in tumor cells resistant to alkylating drugs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Thermolabile adenine adducts and A.T base pair substitutions induced by nitrogen mustard analogues in an SV40-based shuttle plasmid

It was previously shown that the predominant mutations induced by melphalan (L-phenylalanine mustard) in the supF gene of shuttle plasmid pZ189 during replication in human cells are A.T----T.A transversions. In order to determine whether adenine adducts were formed at sequence positions corresponding to these mutations, melphalan-induced thermolabile adducts were mapped in the supF gene by selective depurination followed by strand cleavage in alkali. All A.T base pairs which were frequent sites for melphalan-induced A.T----T.A transversions were also prominent sites for formation of thermolabile adenine adducts. Although no mutations were detected at some prominent adduct sites, there was a significant correlation between adduct sites and mutation sites. While runs of two or more adenines were particularly prominent adduct sites, comparison of results obtained with 3'- and 5'-end-labeled DNA gave no evidence for intrastrand cross-links between adjacent adenines. Chlorambucil, another aromatic nitrogen mustard, showed sequence specificities for both mutagenesis and adenine adduct formation nearly identical to those seen with melphalan. The nonaromatic analogues mechlorethamine and phosphoramide mustard were much less efficient in inducing thermolabile adenine adducts, and mechlorethamine induced significantly fewer transversions at A.T base pairs than chlorambucil or melphalan. Formation of thermolabile adenine adducts by the aromatic nitrogen mustards was markedly reduced by blockage of the minor groove with distamycin, or by prior heat denaturation of the DNA. These results suggest that alkylation occurs primarily at the N-3 rather than N-7 position of adenine, probably as a consequence of the affinity of the aromatic rings of melphalan and chlorambucil for the minor groove.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Increased drug accumulation ex vivo with cyclosporin in chronic lymphatic leukemia and its relationship to epitope masking of P-glycoprotein

The ability of cyclosporin to modify drug accumulation in vitro, measured by the cellular accumulation of daunorubicin, was examined. In 42 patients with chronic lymphatic leukaemia this correlates well with the levels of P-glycoprotein (Pgp) measured by immunofluorescent labelling of Pgp after treatment of the cells with neuraminidase to unmask the epitope recognized by the monoclonal antibody MRK 16. It is shown that flow cytometric analysis using MRK 16 to detect Pgp expression levels together with drug accumulation studies can rapidly assess the multidrug-resistant phenotype of patients' cells, and enable selection of those suitable for therapy with agents known to circumvent mdr-1 mediated drug resistance.

Metallothionein expression and transient resistance to electrophilic antineoplastic drugs

Intrinsic and acquired resistance to antineoplastic agents remains an important impediment to cancer therapy. Intracellular metallothioneins appear to be one factor in determining the responsiveness of malignant and normal cells to electrophilic anticancer agents. Metallothioneins are not only constitutively expressed but their expression can be transcriptionally activated by a host of endogenous and exogenous substances; this is a reversible phenomenon. This inducibility affords the possibility that cells can respond quickly to toxic substances and that under certain conditions transient drug resistance may occur. We review the evidence implicating metallothioneins in anticancer drug resistance and discuss this in the context of the possibility of transient resistance.

Cytostatic synergism between bromodeoxyuridine, bleomycin, cisplatin and chlorambucil demonstrated by a sensitive cell kinetic assay

Bromodeoxyuridine/Hoechst flow cytometry was used to analyse the interference of common cytostatic agents with cell activation and cell cycle progression of human B-cell lines. Bleomycin impaired both cell activation and G2 transit, the latter effect being oxygen dependent. The DNA alkylating agents cyclophosphamide, chlorambucil and mitomycin C caused G2 arrest, whereas cisplatin arrested cells in both the S and G2 phase of the cell cycle. Vinblastin interfered with mitosis, but in addition arrested cells in all phases of the cell cycle. The growth inhibitory action of bleomycin, cisplatin and chlorambucil was dependent upon the bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) concentration in the culture medium. No interaction was found between BrdU and cyclophosphamide, mitomycin C and vinblastin. The cell cycle kinetic mechanism of the interaction between BrdU and bleomycin, cisplatin and chlorambucil was a potentiation of the G2 arrest. In conclusion, BrdU may be useful in clinical chemotherapy as a chemosensitizer for selected cytostatic agents.

Influence of chlorambucil, a bifunctional alkylating agent, on the histone variant biosynthesis of HEp-2 cells

The effect of chlorambucil on the synthesis of histone variants of a cancer cell line HEp-2 is analysed and compared to that of nontreated and hydroxyurea treated cells. Cell proteins were labelled with [14C]lysine and [14C]arginine and histone variants resolved by one- or two-dimensional electrophoresis. Chlorambucil shows no significant decrease in total protein synthesis but shows a significant decrease in histone biosynthesis. It does not selectively inhibit the synthesis of the S-phase variants, i.e., H2A.1, H2A.2, H3.2 or the G1/G2 phase (basal) histone variants, i.e., H2A.Z, H2A.X and H3.3. On the contrary, hydroxyurea treated cells, which also show no significant decrease in amino acid incorporation into total cellular protein but do exhibit a significant inhibition of histone biosynthesis, show a selective inhibition of the synthesis of S-phase variants, but have no effect on the synthesis of basal histone variants. On the basis of histone variants being synthesized in the presence of chlorambucil, it is shown that although chlorambucil shows a specificity for histone synthesis inhibition it has a general action over the whole variant complement and is not coupled to S-phase synthesis in a way typical for DNA synthesis inhibiting drugs.

Dose-dependent induction of apoptosis in human tumour cell lines by widely diverging stimuli

Cell death may occur by either of two mechanisms: apoptosis or necrosis. Necrosis, the first type of cell death to be recognized, is an uncontrolled degenerative phenomenon invariably caused by noxious stimuli and is the result of irreversible failure of membrane function. Apoptosis, on the other hand, is a death process which involves a series of well-organized events which require active cell participation, and is primarily caused by physiological stimuli. In the present study we show that cell death induced by a range of varied agents may take the form of either apoptosis or necrosis. Apoptotic cell death was found to occur at low levels of these agents, while at higher levels necrosis occurred. Hence, cells which are not killed directly, but merely injured by these agents, have the capacity to activate an internally programmed suicide death mechanism, whereas cells receiving greater injuries apparently do not. In addition, the presence of extracellular calcium was found to be necessary for the induction of apoptosis with all agents tested.

The relationship between the in vitro chemosensitivity of tumor cells and tumor response in vivo in an experimental tumor model

Cell lines derived from a panel of five histologically distinct murine adenocarcinomas of the colon (MAC) were used to assess whether or not a colony-forming assay could have retrospectively predicted the wide range of in vivo responses to chlorambucil (CHL). The predictive value of the clonogenic assay was significantly improved when fractions (one-tenth) of the plasma drug AUC (from the area under the drug clearance curves); were used to determine clonogenic cell kill in vitro, instead of one-tenth peak plasma drug concentration and total plasma drug AUC exposures. Despite the good correlation between in vitro and in vivo responses observed, the clonogenic assay could not forecast the site-dependent response of MAC 15A to CHL. These site-dependent responses cannot be explained in terms of the inherent sensitivity of tumor cells themselves, suggesting that caution must be applied in the interpretation of in vitro chemosensitivity assays.

Morphometric and colorimetric analyses of human tumor cell line growth and drug sensitivity in soft agar culture

Previous studies have demonstrated the suitability of image analysis of tetrazolium-stained colonies to assess growth and drug sensitivity of human tumor cells cultivated in soft agar culture. In the present study, the potential utility of colorimetric analysis to expedite experimental drug evaluations using human tumor cell lines was investigated. The same culture dishes were assessed by image analysis and by formazan colorimetry for purposes of comparing multiple methods of measuring growth as well as growth inhibition. Replicate cultures treated with 2-(p-iodonitrophenyl)-3-p-nitrophenyl-5-phenyltetrazolium chloride or 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide exhibited nearly identical colony count and volume indices as well as excellent correlation in colorimetric end points. Colony-forming unit volume analysis versus colorimetric assessment of the same cultures following dimethyl sulfoxide extraction of protamine sulfate-rinsed, dried soft agar cultures exhibited excellent linear correlation for both growth (Pearson r ranging from 0.95 to 1.00) and drug sensitivity (Pearson r ranging from 0.90 to 0.99, and Spearman r ranging from 0.82 to 0.97) and similar drug sensitivity profiles. Results of the current investigation indicate that end points of soft agar culture remain stable for a period of at least 2 weeks following assay termination. In addition, a colorimetric detection range of 1.3-2.2 log units permits determinations of survival levels ranging from 100 to 5% of respective control levels. Colorimetric analysis is anticipated to expedite soft agar colony formation assay evaluations (a) by reducing the need to use the more rigorous and time-consuming image analysis procedures to measure activity in preliminary drug sensitivity assays and (b) by permitting the determination of effective concentration ranges of new experimental agents for subsequent, more detailed investigations.

Relationship between glutathione levels and drug or radiation sensitivities in human gastric cancer cell lines in vitro

Permanent cell lines and clones established from an untreated patient (AGS cells) with gastric carcinoma, and from a similar patient who had been treated with Adriamycin, 5FU and cytoxan (SII cells) were used in a study that compared their drug and radiation survival sensitivities to their glutathidine (GSH) values. The SII parental cell line was more resistant than the AGS cells in vitro to chlorambucil, ACT D, Adria, Bleo, and X-rays. This greater resistance was positively correlated with GSH values that were 1.77 times higher than in the AGS parental cell line. By contrast the SII parental cells were more sensitive than the AGS cells to MeCCNU and Melphalan. The drug and radiation sensitivities expressed among the clones of the two cell lines were heterogeneous and did not correlate with their GSH values.

Modulation of resistance to alkylating agents in cancer cell by gossypol enantiomers

Several cell lines resistant to alkylating agents possess increased activity of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) drug detoxifying enzymes. Inhibition of certain enzymes of the glutathione redox system may affect cellular sensitivity to alkylators. We report that the (-.)enantiomer of gossypol is a potent and selective inhibitor of GST alpha and GST pi isozymes, and that in combination with buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), causes the enhanced modulation of alkylator resistance in two drug resistant cell lines with increased GST activity. The use of (-)gossypol alone had no effect on the 2-5-fold resistance of MCF-7 Adr and Walker resistant cells to chlorambucil, melphalan and BCNU. Cellular depletion of glutathione with BSO resulted in a 2-4-fold modulation of cell sensitivity to these alkylators. However, the combination of (-)gossypol with BSO resulted in a markedly greater modulation of alkylator sensitivity than with either inhibitor alone. Therefore, the complementary inhibition of glutathione and GST by BSO and (-)gossypol, respectively, produced a synergistic modulation of alkylator cytotoxicity in these drug resistant cell lines. The favorable clinical pharmacokinetics of (-)gossypol suggest its further evaluation for use in combination with BSO and alkylating agents in clinical trials.

Synthesis and cytotoxic activity of a new alkylating derivative of dipyridamole

Synthesis of 2,6-Bis[bis(2-chloroethyl) amino]-4,8-dipiperidinopyrimido[5,4-d] pyrimidine, a derivative of dipyridamole, was carried out by treating dipyridamole with thionyl chloride. Cytotoxic activity of this compound was assessed using cultured P388 leukaemia cells and HeLa cells. The compound inhibited the colony-forming ability of HeLa cells and showed a cytotoxicity on P388 cells comparable to that of other alkylating drugs (chlorambucil and CCNU).

Preferential reductions in lymphocyte sub-populations induced by monthly pulses of chlorambucil: studies in patients with chronic progressive multiple sclerosis

Thirty-three patients with chronic progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) were assigned to intervention groups receiving monthly pulses of chlorambucil (CB) for about one year. The monthly doses ranged from 0.4 to 1.5 mg/kg. Administration of CB resulted in preferential reduction in different lymphocyte subsets which was dose- and time-dependent. The number of B-cells (CD20) decreased more rapidly than NK-cells (CD16, CD56, CD16+CD56+) or T-cell (CD3) and T-cells subsets (CD4 and CD8). At 1.2 mg/kg, CB administration resulted in a preferential drop of T-suppressor/cytotoxic cells (CD8) compared with T-helper cells (CD4), and of the less mature "virgin" CD4 cells (CD4+CD45RA+) compared with "memory" CD4 cells (CD4+CD45RA-). The expression of activation markers (transferrin receptor, CALLa, HLA-Dr and CD38[OKT10]) within CD4, CD8 or CD20 lymphocytes was not altered by CB administration. Our data, which show that CB administration results in a preferential fall in B-cell numbers, contrast with the effects of long-term administration of the related immunosuppressive drugs, azathioprine and cyclophosphamide.

Relationships between resistance to cross-linking agents and glutathione metabolism, aldehyde dehydrogenase isozymes and adenovirus replication in human tumour cell lines

In a panel of 10 human tumour cell lines with no prior exposure to drugs in vitro, resistance to cisplatin correlated with resistance to the nitrogen mustard derivatives Asta Z-7557 (mafosfamide, an activated form of cyclophosphamide), melphalan and chlorambucil. Simultaneous treatment with DL-buthionine-S,R-sulfoximine did not enhance the toxicity of cisplatin or Asta Z-7557, and no correlation was found between drug resistance and cellular levels of metallothioneins (as judged by sensitivity to cadmium chloride), glutathione (GSH), GSH reductase, GSH transferase, or gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase. The two cell lines most resistant to Asta Z-7557 expressed aldehyde dehydrogenase cytosolic isozyme 1, found also in normal ovary, but not isozyme 3. Treatment of resistant cells with cisplatin or Asta Z-7557 inhibited cellular DNA synthesis and replication of adenovirus 5 to a lesser extent than in sensitive cells. The virus could be directly inactivated by both drugs prior to infection, subsequent replication being inhibited to the same extent in sensitive and resistant cells. In contrast to Asta Z-7557 and other DNA damaging agents, cisplatin was much more toxic to adenovirus (D37 0.022-0.048 microM) than to cells (D37 0.25-2.5 microM). The adenovirus 5 mutant Ad5ts125 having a G----A substitution was even more sensitive to cisplatin (D37 7-8 nM) than wild type virus and another mutant. Cisplatin was detoxified less by sonicated resistant resistant cells than sensitive cells, as judged by inactivation of Ad5ts125 added to the reaction mixture. It can be inferred that (i) the major differences in cellular resistance to cisplatin and Asta Z-7557 in the present material did not involve enhanced DNA repair or protection by metallothioneins or GSH, but were associated with the ability to continue cellular and viral DNA synthesis during treatment, (ii) resistance was not associated with less template damage, and (iii) the adenovirus genome may be a suitable probe for predicting tumour resistance to cisplatin and for elucidating the DNA sequence dependence of cisplatin toxicity.

Nitro analogues of chlorambucil as potential hypoxia-selective anti-tumour drugs

The chlorambucil isomer 4-[3-[N,N-bis(2-chloroethyl)amino]phenyl] butanoic acid (m-chlorambucil) has been synthesized for the first time, and the two isometric nitro derivatives of both m-chlorambucil and chlorambucil itself have been prepared as potential hypoxia-selective cytotoxins. Reduction potentials (E1/2) of the two nitro compounds were determined by cyclic voltammetry, and one-electron reduction potentials (E(1] were estimated. Both the chlorambucil isomers and the derived nitro compounds crosslink DNA, as determined by their cytotoxicity ratios in DNA repair-proficient and -deficient cell lines, but neither of the nitro derivatives showed selective toxicity under hypoxic conditions, probably due to their rather low reduction potentials.

DNA adenine adducts induced by nitrogen mustards and their role in transcription termination in vitro

Previous studies have demonstrated that three cancer chemotherapeutic compounds of the nitrogen mustard class, melphalan (L-PAM), nitrogen mustard (HN2) and chlorambucil (CBC), each generated DNA lesions that prematurely terminate in vitro transcription. Sites of these lesions were inconsistent with sites of N7 guanine monoadducts formed by these compounds, and in the cases of L-PAM and CBC were suggestive of adenine lesions. The present study is an attempt to identify and characterize nitrogen mustard-induced non-N7 guanine DNA adducts, and in particular adenine DNA adducts, and to assess their role in drug-induced in vitro transcription termination. Data from studies using a modified Maxam-Gilbert DNA sequencing technique demonstrate that L-PAM and CBC, but not HN2, generate heat-labile, alkaline-stabilized adenine adducts at nearly every adenine in a region of a defined DNA template examined. Comparison of sites of L-PAM- and CBC-induced adenine adducts to known sites of drug-induced transcription termination in the same DNA template show that L-PAM- and CBC-induced transcription termination is associated not with drug lesions at single adenines, but rather with drug-induced adducts at neighboring adenines. Additional in vitro transcription studies using a small DNA molecule generated by polymerase chain reaction-mediated DNA amplification demonstrate that none of the transcription-terminating lesions induced by L-PAM and CBC in this molecule are interstrand in nature. These results suggest that some, but not all, nitrogen mustard compounds can generate heat-labile adenine lesions in DNA, and that bifunctional nitrogen mustards that can form heat-labile adenine adducts also form adducts consistent with intrastrand adenine-adenine crosslinks. These adducts at pairs of adenines in turn appear to be responsible for L-PAM- and CBC-induced transcription termination in vitro.

Elevated serum levels of soluble interleukin 2 receptor, interleukin 2 and neopterin in diffuse and limited scleroderma: effects of chlorambucil

In a study of 48 patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). elevated serum levels of soluble interleukin 2 receptor (IL-2R), interleukin 2 (IL-2) and neopterin (indicators of lymphocyte/monocyte activation) were noted in 100, 44 and 40% of early untreated patients with SSc (11 diffuse, 5 Limited). Levels of IL-2R, but not IL-2 or neopterin, were lower in patients with longer duration of disease and possibly with chlorambucil therapy. Pharmacologic alterations of markers of humoral or cell mediated immunity may not be an accurate reflection of clinical efficacy of chlorambucil.

Expression of human glutathione S-transferases in Saccharomyces cerevisiae confers resistance to the anticancer drugs adriamycin and chlorambucil

Adaptation and resistance to chemicals in the environment is a critical part of the evolutionary process. As a result, a wide variety of defence systems that protect cells against chemical insult have evolved. Such chemical resistance mechanisms appear to play a central role in determining the sensitivity of human tumours to treatment with chemotherapeutic drugs. The glutathione S-transferases (GST) are important detoxification enzymes whose over-expression has been associated with drug-resistance. In order to evaluate this possibility we have expressed the human Alpha-class and Pi-class GST cDNAs that encode GST B1B1 and GST pi in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The expression of GST B1B1 or GST pi resulted in a marked reduction in the cytotoxic effects of chlorambucil, a bifunctional alkylating agent, and an anthracycline, adriamycin. These data provide direct evidence that the over-expression of GST in cells can confer resistance to anticancer drugs.

Effects of intra-arterial chemotherapy with a new lipophilic anticancer agent, estradiol-chlorambucil (KM2210), dissolved in lipiodol on experimental liver tumor in rats

Anticancer effects and biodistribution of a new lipophilic anticancer agent, estradiol-chlorambucil (KM2210), dissolved in lipiodol (LPD) were investigated as an intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC) on Walker 256 carcinosarcoma grown in the liver of 136 Wistar rats. All rats treated with KM2210 (10 mg)-LPD survived for 90 days after administration, whereas none of the rats with LPD alone were alive for more than 19 days. Histological examination revealed that there was no viable tumor cell in the encapsulated necrotic tumor at 21 days after administration. There was no significant liver dysfunction or leukopenia due to KM2210. The biodistribution study using [14C, 3H]KM2210-LPD solution showed that KM2210 accumulated selectively in tumor and that the tumor-to-normal-liver and tumor-to-blood ratios were 10 and 1,000, respectively, at 21 days after administration. These results suggest that KM2210 has potential clinical application in the treatment of human liver cancer.

Glutathione S-transferase activity, sulfhydryl group and glutathione levels, and DNA cross-linking activity with chlorambucil in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Glutathione (GSH) levels and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities were measured in the leukemia cells of 12 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Both were correlated with prior clinical exposure to alkylating agents and with DNA cross-link formation by chlorambucil in these cells in vitro. No correlation was observed between prior exposure to alkylating agents and GSH level or GST activity. An inverse correlation was observed between GST activity and cross-linking by chlorambucil, which was enhanced if both GST activity and GSH level were related to cross-linking. These findings suggest that the combination of GST and GSH protects the DNA of leukemia cells from chlorambucil, but the role of this combination in clinical resistance remains to be determined.

Expression of recombinant glutathione S-transferase pi, Ya, or Yb1 confers resistance to alkylating agents

Increased levels of glutathione S-transferase (GST; RX:glutathione R-transferase; EC 2.5.1.18) mRNA, protein, and activity in tumor biopsy samples and in drug-resistant cultured cells are associated with resistance to anticancer drugs. We report that each of three full-length cloned GST cDNAs, that for pi (acidic), Ya (basic), and Yb1 (neutral), can confer drug resistance when expressed in cultured mammalian cells. In one approach, stably transfected mouse C3H/10T1/2 cells that express GST pi, Ya, or Yb1 were cloned and analyzed for drug resistance in colony-forming assays. Transiently transfected COS cells that were sorted on a fluorescence-activated cell sorter were used in the second approach to avoid interclonal variation in factors other than the recombinant GST and to show that reversion of transient GST expression correlated with loss of drug resistance. A sorting technique, developed to separate the 20% of the electroporated COS cell population that transiently expressed GST pi, Ya, or Yb1 from the nonexpressing population, was based on a GST-catalyzed intracellular conjugation of glutathione to the fluorescent labeling reagent monochlorobimane. GST Ya conferred the greatest increase in resistance to chlorambucil and melphalan (1.3- to 2.9-fold), Yb1 conferred the greatest increase in resistance to cisplatin (1.5-fold), and pi conferred the greatest increase in resistance to a racemic mixture of 7 beta,8 alpha-dihydroxy-9 alpha,10 alpha-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a] pyrene and 7 alpha,8 beta-dihydroxy-9 beta,10 beta-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo [a]pyrene and doxorubicin (1.5- and 1.3-fold) relative to controls. These resistance values to alkylating agents are commensurate with values observed clinically. Cytotoxicity curves representing recombinant GST+ populations were significantly different from their controls with P values ranging from 0.005 to 0.0001. No resistance to vinblastine was detected. Conferred drug resistance was proportional to the magnitude of GST Ya expression, and reversion of transient expression in GST Ya+ COS cell clones to a GST Ya- phenotype was associated with total loss of drug resistance.

Genetic and molecular analysis of chlorambucil-induced germ-line mutations in the mouse

Eighteen variants recovered from specific locus mutation rate experiments involving the mutagen chlorambucil were subjected to several genetic and molecular analyses. Most mutations were found to be homozygous lethal. Because lethality is often presumptive evidence for multilocus-deletion events, 10 mutations were analyzed by Southern blot analysis with probes at, or closely linked to, several of the specific locus test markers, namely, albino (c), brown (b), and dilute (d). All eight mutations (two c; three b; two d; and one dilute-short ear [Df(d se)]) that arose in post-spermatogonial germ cells were deleted for DNA sequences. No evidence for deletion of two d-se region probes was obtained for the remaining two d mutations that arose in stem-cell spermatogonia. Six of the primary mutants also produced low litter sizes ("semisterility"). Karyotypic analysis has, to date, confirmed the presence of reciprocal translocations in four of the six. The high frequency of deletions and translocations among the mutations induced in post-spermatogonial stages by chlorambucil, combined with its overall high efficiency in inducing mutations in these stages, should make chlorambucil mutagenesis useful for generating experimentally valuable germ-line deletions throughout the mouse genome.

Physicochemical and pharmacokinetic parameters of seven lipophilic chlorambucil esters designed for brain penetration

This report describes the physicochemical and pharmacokinetic parameters of seven chlorambucil esters, which were compared with those of chlorambucil. These esters were designed as chlorambucil prodrugs to increase the brain penetration and concentration vs time profile of chlorambucil within the CNS for potential treatment of brain tumors. They include four aliphatic esters from one to eight carbon chains in length (chlorambucil-methyl, -propyl, -hexyl, and -octyl esters) and three aromatic esters, including the phenylmethyl, phenylethyl and prednisolone ester of chlorambucil, prednimustine. The esters were lipophilic and possessed log octanol:water partition coefficients (log P values) that ranged from 4.05 to greater than 8.0. All retained alkylating activity, which was reduced compared with that of chlorambucil. In addition, all were metabolized in vivo in the rat to yield chlorambucil alone. Measurement of the in vitro rate of ester hydrolysis of the compounds to yield chlorambucil in rat plasma demonstrated that short-chain aliphatic and aromatic chlorambucil esters were rapidly broken down to their parent compound. The plasma half-lives of the compounds increased with the increasing length and complexity of their ester chain. This may have been related to an increase in the binding of the long-chain esters to plasma proteins, protecting the ester from nonspecific plasma esterases, and to a reduced affinity of plasma esterases to these esters. Pharmacokinetic analysis of chlorambucil-hexyl, -octyl, and -prednisolone esters by HPLC demonstrated that following their intravenous administration in the rat (in doses equivalent to equimolar chlorambucil, 10 mg/kg), they yielded only low concentrations of active compounds in plasma and brain. The brain:plasma ratio of these was low and similar to that of chlorambucil, and no ester demonstrated anticancer activity superior to that obtained after the administration of equimolar chlorambucil (5 mg/kg i.v., days 1-5) against brain-sequestered Walker 256 carcinosarcoma in the rat.

Effects of intraarterial chemotherapy using the new lipophilic anticancer agent 'KM2210' (estradiol-chlorambucil) dissolved in lipiodol on Walker 256 carcinosarcoma in Wistar rats--a preliminary report

The effect of a new oil-soluble anticancer agent 'KM2210' (estradiol-chlorambucil) dissolved in lipiodol (LPD) was investigated as intraarterial chemotherapy, using 40 Wistar rats bearing Walker 256 carcinosarcoma in the extremities. KM2210-LPD significantly inhibited tumor growth and prolonged the survival time, as compared to LPD alone or saline alone, p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.01, respectively. Pathological study revealed that KM2210-LPD made the tumor necrotic. It was revealed that KM2210-LPD injected into the femoral artery was retained in the hind limb tumor. These findings suggest that KM2210 may possibly become a new anticancer agent with potential clinical use in LPD chemoembolization.

Possible role of inhibition of glutathione S-transferase in the partial reversal of chlorambucil resistance by indomethacin in a Chinese hamster ovary cell line

We have reported previously the isolation and characterization of a Chinese hamster ovary cell line, designated CHO-Chlr, which exhibits resistance to bifunctional nitrogen mustards while maintaining sensitivity to a range of other alkylating agents and chemotherapeutic drugs. This enhanced drug resistance is associated with a greater than 40-fold increase in the level of expression of an alpha class (YcYc) glutathione S-transferase (GST) as compared to the parental, CHO-K1, cell line. Here, we have purified GST from CHO-Chlr cells and show that the nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug indomethacin acts as an inhibitor of enzyme activity. Indomethacin at 500 microM causes no significant decrease in colony forming ability of either CHO-K1 or CHO-Chlr cells. However, the cytotoxicity of chlorambucil is potentiated 5.5-fold in CHO-Chlr cells, but only 2.5-fold in CHO-K1 cells following preexposure to 500 microM indomethacin. In contrast, the antiinflammatory agent acetylsalicylic acid failed to inhibit the activity of purified GST and caused no potentiation of chlorambucil toxicity, suggesting that the potentiation by indomethacin is not due to the effects of this drug on prostaglandin synthesis. These studies provide further evidence that GSTs may be involved in the development of resistance to bifunctional alkylating agents and suggest that indomethacin, or agents with similar activities, may be of value as an adjunct to chemotherapy in some patients with tumors resistant to treatment with alkylating agents.

Transcription-terminating lesions induced by bifunctional alkylating agents in vitro

The present study was initiated to determine if DNA damage induced by the bifunctional anti-tumor alkylating agents melphalan, nitrogen mustard, a spontaneously activated derivative of cyclophosphamide or chlorambucil inhibits transcription in vitro, and to determine if the potential sites of transcription termination correlate with the sites of N7 guanine adducts predominantly formed by these agents. To assess drug effects on in vitro transcription, linearized plasmid DNA containing the 420-bp PstI fragment of exon two of the human c-myc oncogene was incubated with various concentrations of the drugs. After drug removal and further drug-free incubation, the sense strand of the c-myc insert was transcribed with either of two bacteriophage RNA polymerases in the presence of [32P]UTP. The labeled products of the reaction were electrophoresed next to the labeled products of RNA sequencing reactions, and the location of transcription termination along the DNA template was determined. The sites of transcription termination were then compared with the sites of drug-induced guanine N7 alkylation in the template, as determined by modified Maxam-Gilbert sequencing. At the drug exposures examined, all the drugs were shown to alkylate any guanine in the template. Transcription of this alkylated DNA, however, resulted in RNA molecules truncated not at every alkylated guanine, but at various discrete sites throughout the template. Transcription was terminated at every adenine pair examined in the melphalan-treated template, at selected guanine pairs in the nitrogen-mustard-treated template, and at selected adenine-guanine and guanine-adenine pairs in the chlorambucil-treated template. Transcription of cyclophosphamide-derivative-treated DNA was unaffected. These results suggest that only some bifunctional alkylating agents induce DNA damage capable of terminating transcription in vitro, and that these agents do so in a sequence-specific, drug-specific manner inconsistent with patterns of guanine N7 alkylation.

Identification of a glutathione S-transferase associated with microsomes of tumor cells resistant to nitrogen mustards

Walker 256 rat mammary carcinoma cells resistant to chlorambucil (WR) exhibited an approximate 4-fold increase in glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity using 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene as compared to the sensitive parent cell line (WS). WR cells maintained without biannual exposure to chlorambucil (WRr) reverted to the sensitive phenotype and possessed GST levels equivalent to WS. Mitochondria, microsomes and cytosol were isolated from WS, WR and WRr cell lines and analyzed for their GST composition. GST activity in each subcellular compartment of resistant cells was increased over the sensitive cells. Antibodies raised against total rat liver cytosolic GST crossreacted in resistant cells with two microsomal proteins (25.7 kD and 29 kD). The 29 kD protein was not detected in microsomal fractions from either WS or WRr and this protein was found to be dissimilar from cytosolic GST subunits in its isoelectric point (pI 6.7) and migration on two-dimensional polyacrylamide gels. In addition, the 29 kD microsome-associated GST from WR cells was immunologically distinct from a 14 kD GST subunit previously identified in rat liver microsomes. These data implicate the induction of a specific microsomal GST subunit in WR cells following drug selection and suggest its potential involvement in the establishment of cellular resistance to chlorambucil.

[Survival of the larvae of the ship botfly Oestrus ovis L. depending on the function of the immune system of the host's body]

In the experiments on artificial infection the survival of larvae of Oestrus ovis L. in sheep with depressed, normal and stimulated immune system was studied. The maximum number of larvae survived in immune depressed animals (62.9%), the minimum number survived in immune stimulated animals (0.4%). For the estimation of specific immune response the reaction of indirect hemagglutination (IHA), the reaction of diffused precipitation (RDP) and the immune ferment analysis (ELISA) were used.

Studies on drug resistance in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is a neoplastic disease in which drug resistance invariably occurs. We have studied the uptake and interaction with molecular targets of two drugs, chlorambucil and adriamycin, in CLL lymphocytes and CHO cell lines. Resistance does not appear related to uptake for either drug. Exposure to CLB causes DNA cross-links in the sensitive but not in the resistant cell line. The GSH content of B-CLL lymphocytes is depleted after a 20-hr incubation. An inability to maintain its GSH content may contribute to this cell's vulnerability to CLB. The resistance of CLL lymphocytes to ADR may be related to the undetectable levels of its target enzyme DNA topoisomerase II. Future approaches may involve study of novel anthracyclines, DNA topoisomerase I inhibitors and the development of in vitro predictive tests.

Concentration and time-dependent inter-relationships for cytotoxicities of nitrogen mustard drugs against lymphoblasts in-vitro

Peripheral lymphoblasts were exposed either to different initial concentrations of the alkylating agents (melphalan, chlorambucil or phenylacetic acid mustard) using a fixed incubation time or a constant [3H]methylthymidine incorporation into the trichloracetic acid-insoluble fraction of the cells. The concentration-time relationships were evaluated by calculating the amount of drug which had chemically reacted in the incubation system. Melphalan showed lower cytotoxicity at short exposure times and high drug concentrations, while chlorambucil exhibited higher cytotoxicity at longer exposure times. In the latter case the effect could be accounted for by the cytotoxic activity of monohydroxy chlorambucil which was formed in the incubation system.

Differential sensitivity of histone acetylation in nitrogen-mustard sensitive and resistant cells. Relation to drug uptake, formation and repair of DNA-interstrand cross-links

Cultivation of Ehrlich-ascites tumor cells in the presence of N-mustard leads to a selection of cells with a defective choline carrier. As N-mustard employs the choline carrier for transport, this results in reduced drug uptake and in a decrease in drug sensitivity which is specific for N-mustard. Walker carcinoma cells with a stable pleiotropic resistance to a variety of alkylating agents and adriamycin exhibit no evidence for an impaired drug transport and show the same frequency of DNA-interstrand cross-links as the sensitive parental line. Both sensitive and resistant Walker cells exhibit equal capacities for repair of N-mustard induced DNA-interstrand cross-links. The inhibition of histone acetylation by N-mustard, however, was found to be significantly lower in the resistant Walker or Ehrlich cells compared to sensitive counterparts. Although the difference between N-mustard concentrations leading to half maximal inhibition of histone acetylation in sensitive and resistant cells is considerably smaller than the difference between N-mustard doses required for half maximal inhibition of cell proliferation the data suggest that--besides DNA-DNA cross-linking--the inhibition of histone acetylation has to be considered as an important alternative mechanism responsible for the cytotoxic activity of alkylating agents. Inhibition of histone acetylation is not due an accelerated deacetylation and is predominantly expressed in chromatin fractions soluble in 0.1 M NaCl after digestion with micrococcal nuclease.

Mode of action of estra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3,17 beta-diol 3-benzoate 17-[4-(4-bis(2-chloroethyl)amino)phenyl)-1-oxobutoxy)acet ate) on human breast carcinoma xenografts in nude mice

To elucidate the mode of action of busramustine (KM2210), 17 beta- and alpha-busramustine, estradiol and chlorambucil were used for experimental chemo- and endocrino-therapy against hormone-dependent (T-61) and independent (MX-1) human breast carcinomas serially transplanted into BALB/cA female nude mice. Busramustine was administered po daily for 3 weeks at doses of 12.5-300 mg/kg for the beta-isomer and 25-300 mg/kg for the alpha-isomer. Five to 50 mg of estradiol per kg was administered im once, and 3 to 6 mg of chlorambucil per kg was administered po daily for 3 weeks. All of the compounds were effective against estrogen receptor-positive T-61 with a clear dose-response relationship, while estrogen receptor-negative MX-1 was sensitive to all of the agents except estradiol. Since the alpha-isomer of busramustine was effective against both tumor lines, the mode of action of 17 beta-busramustine may not be related to estrogenic action by estradiol released from the maternal compound. However, 17 beta-busramustine generated the estrogen receptor system of T-61 tumor and resulted in the endometrial hyperplasia of tumor-bearing nude mice, suggesting that this compound also has estrogenic action on transplanted human breast carcinoma and tumor-bearing host mice, besides non-estrogenic antitumor activity on human breast carcinoma xenografts.

In vitro and in vivo activity of 1-aryl-3-(2-chloroethyl) urea derivatives as new antineoplastic agents

A few 1-aryl 3-(2-chloroethyl)ureas (CEU) were synthesized and screened in vitro for their cytotoxicity. Some of these derivatives were assayed for their mutagenicity, their in vivo toxicity and their antineoplastic activity. Methyl 4-(p-(3-(2-chloroethyl) ureido) phenyl) butyrate, 4-methyl and 4-tertbutyl (3-(2-chloroethyl) ureido) phenyl) butyrate, 4-methyl and 4-tert-butyl (3-(2-chloroethyl) ureido) benzene had an ID50 of 28, 20 and 4 microM respectively when tested on LoVo cells, while chlorambucil (CBL) and CCNU had an ID50 of 21 and 45 microM. These 3 chloroethyl urea derivatives were not toxic when injected i.p. at doses up to 220 mg/kg, whereas chlorambucil was already toxic at 18.5 mg/kg. The survival time of BDF1 mice bearing L1210 leukemia tumors was significantly enhanced by intraperitoneal injections of CBL and CEU. The most cytotoxic derivative (tert-butyl derivative) gave the best antineoplastic activity with a median survival time 1.77 times that of the control at 10 mg/kg/day and was not toxic, whereas CBL at this concentration enhanced survival time by a factor of 1.6 and presented important side effects. The 4-tert-butyl (3-(2-chloroethyl) ureido) benzene and the methyl 4-(p-(3-(2-chloroethyl) ureido) phenyl) butyrate showed no mutagenicity when assayed on TA-97, TA-98, TA-100 and TA-102, four strains of S. thyphimurium, while CBL had a weak effect on TA-102 and CCNU was highly mutagenic on TA-100 and TA-102.

Progression of a human B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia line in nude mice

Subcutaneous (s.c.) inoculation of the 85-4LN subline, derived from a lymph nodal metastasis of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) transformed human chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) B cell line, EBV-CLL (1), produced progressively growing lethal tumors in 31/35 nonirradiated (88.6%) and 22/25 (88%) of whole-body irradiated (440 rad) nude mice. In contrast, EBV-CLL(1) could produce progressive tumors only in irradiated nude mice. All 85-4LN cells had Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen and reacted with pan B and anti-la antibodies. The morphology and ultrastructural features was consistent with the lymphoblastoid nature of the cells. In all s.c. tumor bearing mice, there was enlargement of the spleen and draining lymph nodes. Karyological studies revealed human cells in the spleen and draining nodes in all the mice investigated. Metastases in nonlymphoid organs were seen in 1/8 irradiated and 8/12 nonirradiated mice. The subline contained 77% cells with 47,XY, +12 and 23% cells with 45,XY karyotype. The clone with trisomy 12 did not have any growth advantage either in s.c. transplants or in splenic/lymph nodal metastases. Treatment with the maximum permissible doses of methotrexate (MTX) or chlorambucil (CBL) revealed xenografts to be more sensitive to MTX than CBL. A clone with a 1g+ marker, i.e., 46,XY,Dup(1) (q11----q32) appeared to be associated with resistance to CBL. We have not seen any previous report on the growth and dissemination of human CLL B cells in nonirradiated nude mice. The 85-4LN subline, thus, provides a model for studying the progression, dissemination and therapeutic response of human CLL-B cells.

[Sensitivity of the splenic cells of different mouse strains to the antiproliferative action of alkylating compounds]

A method of quantitative evaluation of lymphocytes' sensitivity to the antiproliferative effect of the alkylating drugs has been developed. Chlorbutin, mafosfamide (Asta Z 7654) and "active" metabolites of cyclophosphamide were studied. This research allowed to distinguish more sensitive strains (DBA/2 and C57BL/6) and those with low sensitivity (BALB/c and CC57BR). These differences do not depend on proliferation reaction, neither on the type of alkylating drugs nor haplotypes H-2.

Comparative brain and plasma pharmacokinetics and anticancer activities of chlorambucil and melphalan in the rat

Equimolar doses of chlorambucil and melphalan (both 10 mg/kg) were administered i.v. to anesthetized rats, and the plasma and brain concentrations of chlorambucil, its metabolites 3,4-dehydrochlorambucil and phenylacetic mustard, and melphalan were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography from 5 to 240 min thereafter. Chlorambucil demonstrated a monophasic disappearance from plasma, with a half-life of 26 min. The compound was 99.6% plasma-protein-bound. Chlorambucil underwent beta-oxidation to yield detectable concentrations of 3,4-dehydrochlorambucil and substantial amounts of phenylacetic mustard in the plasma. Low concentrations of chlorambucil and phenylacetic mustard were detected in the brain. Calculated from the areas under the concentration-time curves, the brain:plasma concentration integral ratios of chlorambucil and phenylacetic mustard were 0.021 and 0.013, respectively. Melphalan demonstrated a biphasic disappearance from plasma, with half-lives of 1.9 and 78 min. The compound was approximately 86% plasma protein-bound. Low concentrations of melphalan were detected in the brain, and its brain:plasma ratio was 0.13. These data demonstrate that following the administration of chlorambucil and melphalan, only low concentrations of active drug are able to enter the brain. As a consequence, concentrations of both drugs that cause the complete inhibition of extracerebrally located tumor have no effect on those located within the brain. Further, the brain uptake of melphalan, although low, is greater than that of chlorambucil and its active metabolites, which coincides with its slightly greater intracerebral activity following the systemic administration of very high doses.

The cellular uptake and cytotoxicity of chlorambucil-monoclonal antibody conjugates

To investigate the mode of entry and action of the alkylating agent chlorambucil (CBL), conjugated to monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs), CBL was coupled with three different MoAbs--to the transferrin receptor, to L3T4 and to Ly-2 molecules--and the activity of these conjugates was compared with free CBL. It was clear that CBL and CBL-MoAb conjugates enter cells and are transported differently within the cell prior to their cytotoxic action. Evidence favouring a separate entry point of CBL and CBL-MoAb conjugates is the differential effect of temperature and metabolic inhibitors (2-deoxyglucose and sodium azide) on the processing of both moieties. In addition, the likely sites of cleavage of CBL-MoAb complexes, the lysosomes, were effected by NH4Cl and chloroquine, which inhibited the activity of CBL-MoAb but not free CBL. Thus, it is likely that CBL-MoAb conjugates enter via the antibody binding sites and the CBL is internalised and transported as a passenger.

Glutathione S-transferases in nitrogen mustard-resistant and -sensitive cell lines

Tumor cell resistance to alkylating agents was studied by examining Walker 256 rat mammary carcinoma cells differentially sensitive to nitrogen mustards. A resistant subpopulation (WR) was selected by exposure to chlorambucil. WR cells showed approximately a 15-fold resistance to the cytotoxic effects of nitrogen mustards and elevated glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity when compared to the sensitive parent cell line (WS). To extend these findings, the GSTs from WR and WS were purified by affinity chromatography on S-hexylglutathione coupled to epoxy-activated agarose. Substrate specificity experiments using purified GSTs demonstrated different profiles of enzyme activity for WR and WS and suggested differential isoenzyme expression in these two cell lines. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blot analysis revealed that the major GST present in both WR and WS was a 26,000-Da subunit that was immunologically distinct from the rat liver GSTs. This GST subunit cross-reacted with antibodies against anionic human placental GST. In addition, three GST forms common to rat liver (29,500, 28,500 and 27,500 molecular weight) were also identified. Overexpression of the 29,500-Da protein was observed in WR cells. These data suggest that differential expression of GST subunits may contribute to the nitrogen mustard-resistant phenotype.

C-banding of two Walker 256 rat carcinoma cell lines sensitive and resistant to bifunctional mustards

Walker 256 rat carcinosarcoma cell lines sensitive (WS) or resistant (WR) to bifunctional nitrogen mustards have modal chromosome numbers of 60 and 55 respectively. Karyotype analysis revealed that these cell lines have retained the major marker chromosomes present in the original in vivo Walker tumours. One new marker chromosome, a metacentric, was found in the WR cell line. C-banding revealed that in the WS cell line the secondary constriction of the marker chromosome was stained, whereas no staining was found on this chromosome in the WR cell line. Three autosomes containing very prominent non-centromeric C-bands were present in WS but not in the WR cell line which has 2 other chromosomes with minor C-bands. As non-centromeric C-bands do not occur in the normal rat karyotype, these are easily identifiable specific tumour markers for these two cell lines.

Sensitivity of lymphocytes from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus to the induction of sister chromatid exchanges by alkylating agents and bromodeoxyuridine

Several authors have suggested that the cells of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have defects of DNA repair. Cells from patients with the classical chromosomal instability syndromes, thought to be due to defects in DNA repair, are hypersensitive to the chromosome damaging effects of some DNA damaging agents, measured as sister chromatid exchange (SCE). We have observed that lymphocytes of patients with SLE are not more sensitive than lymphocytes from healthy individuals to the SCE inducing effects of the DNA damaging agents methyl nitrosourea, methyl methanesulphonate, chlorambucil, and bromodeoxyuridine. These observations do not support the suggestion that cells of patients with SLE have an underlying defect of DNA repair.

Protective function of metallothionein against certain anticancer agents

The possible role of metallothioneins (MT) in the cellular protection against ionizing radiation and alkylating agent cytotoxicity has been investigated by the use of cultured cells with either low or high levels of MT. The cytotoxic activity of the drugs cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum (cis-DDP), chlorambucil and prednimustine was reduced 1,5-3 fold in cells containing high levels of MT, and furthermore about 70% of platinum and 30% chlorambucil was shown to be associated with the protein. Increased resistance was also demonstrated in MT-rich cells during exposure to ionizing radiation. Evidence that MT also may play a role in vivo as a resistance mechanism, was provided in studies of tumors derived from either the MT-rich or MT-poor cells which had been inoculated in nude mice. During treatment of the animals with cis-DDP, the MT-rich tumors exhibited a significant degree of resistance. These results indicate that MT may play an important role in the intrinsic protection of cells against these agents, and raises the question whether it also may be a factor in the acquired resistance of tumors against chemotherapy.

Mutagenicity and clastogenicity of the antineoplastic agents homo-azasteroidal ester of p-bis(2-chloroethyl)aminophenyl acetic acid and chlorambucil

The mutagenic and clastogenic effects of the antineoplastic agents homo-aza-steroidal ester (ASE) and chlorambucil (CBC) were tested for their ability to induce mutations in the Salmonella/microsome system and SCE in CHO cells in culture. ASE was found to be positive in strains TA1535 and TA100 and in the newer strain TA102 with and without metabolic activation, while CBC caused histidine reversion in strain TA102 after the addition of mammalian liver microsomal extract (S9). In addition, both agents were found to be strongly positive for SCE induction. The mutagenic and clastogenic actions of both agents were of a dose-response type.

Chemosensitivity testing in V79 spheroids: drug delivery and cellular microenvironment

Chinese hamster V79 multicell spheroids growing in tissue culture exhibit many of the same properties as solid tumors outgrowing their blood supply, including the spontaneous development of both noncycling and hypoxic cell populations expected to be resistant to many chemotherapeutic agents. Cell-sorting techniques were used to select cells as a function of their position (depth) within the spheroid to test this prediction. "Sensitivity profiles" of cells from various regions within spheroids after treatment with doxorubicin, bleomycin, 5-fluorouracil, carmustine, cisplatin, chlorambucil, and mitomycin are presented. Additionally, exposure of preseparated cells was used to distinguish inherent sensitivity from environmental or locational factors. For these drugs, penetration was a problem only for doxorubicin; in contrast, the microenvironment in the intact spheroid had a much greater influence on cell sensitivity.

Effects of DFMO-induced polyamine depletion on human tumor cell sensitivity to antineoplastic DNA-crosslinking drugs

We investigated the effect of pretreatment with difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an ornithine decarboxylase inhibitor, on the cytocidal responses of four human adenocarcinoma cell lines to two alkylating and crosslinking agents: chlorambucil and N,N',N"-triethylenethiophosphoramide (thiotepa). The cell lines studied included HuTu-80 (duodenum), HT-29 (colon), ME-180 (cervix), and A-427 (lung). A 48- to 72-h pretreatment with DFMO reduced intracellular putrescine and spermidine contents to less than 10% and less than 1% of control levels. This treatment also caused a 30%-70% decline in spermine content. Survival of control and DFMO-pretreated cells after treatment with chlorambucil or thiotepa was measured by a plating efficiency assay. For three of the four lines studied, the DFMO-induced partial polyamine depletion significantly protected cells from the lethal effects of chlorambucil. In ME-180 cultures alone, DFMO pretreatment did not alter the cytocidal efficacy of chlorambucil. Addition of exogenous putrescine to cultures of HuTu-80, HT-29, or A-427 24 h after DFMO addition but 24 h before treatment with chlorambucil reversed the polyamine depletion and its protective effects on chlorambucil-induced cell kill. In contrast to the above observations, DFMO and partial polyamine depletion had no effect on cell survival after thiotepa treatment for any of the cell lines investigated.

Pharmacokinetic basis for the comparative antitumour activity and toxicity of chlorambucil, phenylacetic acid mustard and beta, beta-difluorochlorambucil (CB 7103) in mice

This report describes the relationship between the pharmacokinetics, antitumour activity and toxicity of chlorambucil (CHL), phenylacetic acid mustard (PAAM) and beta, beta-difluorochlorambucil (beta-F2CHL) in mice. Pharmacokinetics were studied by HPLC, antitumour activity by a regrowth delay assay using the KHT murine sarcoma and toxicity by acute LD50. For both antitumour activity and acute toxicity the order of potency was: PAAM greater than CHL greater than beta-F2CHL. CHL and PAAM exhibited identical therapeutic indices, whereas that for beta-F2CHL was somewhat improved. CHL is metabolized by mitochondrial beta-oxidation to the 3,4-dehydro derivative (DeHCHL) and PAAM, and the latter is further metabolized to its monodechloroethylated derivative DeC-PAAM, presumably by hepatic microsomal enzymes. Administered PAAM gave only one metabolite, DeC-PAAM. Unexpectedly, despite beta, beta-disubstitution, beta-F2CHL was also beta-oxidized to give DeHCHL and PAAM, but at reduced rates. Further, metabolic switching was demonstrated with the appearance in large amount of 2 new, unidentified metabolites, which may be dechlorethylation products. The pharmacokinetics of administered CHL, PAAM and beta-F2CHL differ in that the plasma clearance was fastest for CHL, slowest for PAAM and intermediate for beta-F2CHL. For the metabolites, CHL produced peak plasma concentrations of DeHCHL and PAAM, respectively, 7-fold and 2-fold greater than those produced by beta-F2CHL. However, despite these differences, exposures to total bifunctional nitrogen mustards were similar following administration of the 3 drugs and therefore cannot account for their differential activity. In contrast, there was a good correlation between potency and PAAM exposure, which is highest after treatment with PAAM, intermediate after CHL and lowest after beta-F2CHL. In plasma, 3.2% of PAAM is present as nonprotein-bound free drug, compared to 1.3% for DeHCHL, 0.9% for CHL and 0.45% for beta-F2CHL. We propose the amount of free bifunctional nitrogen mustard, itself partly dependent on the extent of metabolism, to be of major importance for the in vivo potency of CHL analogues.

Testicular function in adult rats treated with the alkylating agent chlorambucil

The effects of multiple treatments with the alkylating agent chlorambucil on testicular function in the adult Wistar rat were evaluated. Weekly treatment with doses of 2.5, 5, or 10 mg/kg produced no effect either on spermatogenesis or Leydig cell function. In contrast, doses of 8 or 10 mg/kg administered twice weekly induced damage to both spermatogenesis and probably the Leydig cells. A dose-dependent decrease in spermatogonial stem-cell survival was observed with these two regimens, as assessed by counts of repopulating tubule cross sections. Although serum testosterone remained unchanged, possible Leydig cell damage was indicated by an approximate twofold increase in serum LH following treatment with either 8 or 10 mg/kg of chlorambucil twice weekly. The present results demonstrate that multiple treatments with cytotoxic drugs can be used to model the testicular damage observed in man.