[Drug resistance and cell survival mechanisms for anticancer drugs]

Anticancer efficacy of a supramolecular complex of a 2-diethylaminoethyl-dextran-MMA graft copolymer and paclitaxel used as an artificial enzyme

The anticancer efficacy of a supramolecular complex that was used as an artificial enzyme against multi-drug-resistant cancer cells was confirmed. A complex of diethylaminoethyl-dextran-methacrylic acid methylester copolymer (DDMC)/paclitaxel (PTX), obtained with PTX as the guest and DDMC as the host, formed a nanoparticle 50-300 nm in size. This complex is considered to be useful as a drug delivery system (DDS) for anticancer compounds since it formed a stable polymeric micelle in water. The resistance of B16F10 melanoma cells to PTX was shown clearly through a maximum survival curve. Conversely, the DDMC/PTX complex showed a superior anticancer efficacy and cell killing rate, as determined through a Michaelis-Menten-type equation, which may promote an allosteric supramolecular reaction to tubulin, in the same manner as an enzymatic reaction. The DDMC/PTX complex showed significantly higher anticancer activity compared to PTX alone in mouse skin in vivo. The median survival times of the saline, PTX, DDMC/PTX4 (particle size 50 nm), and DDMC/PTX5 (particle size 290 nm) groups were 120 h (treatment (T)/control (C), 1.0), 176 h (T/C, 1.46), 328 h (T/C, 2.73), and 280 h (T/C, 2.33), respectively. The supramolecular DDMC/PTX complex showed twice the effectiveness of PTX alone (p < 0.036). Above all, the DDMC/PTX complex is not degraded in cells and acts as an intact supramolecular assembly, which adds a new species to the range of DDS.

Activities of DNA-PK and Ku86, but not Ku70, may predict sensitivity to cisplatin in human gliomas

OBJECTIVE

This study was designed to investigate the relationship between activities of DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK), its subunits Ku86/Ku70, and sensitivities to cisplatin in human glioma samples.

METHODS

Thirty-six glioma samples from patients without prior treatment before neurosurgery were included in this study. The sensitivities to cisplatin as indicated by IC(50) (the inhibitory concentration leading to 50% cell death) were assessed by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenytetrazolium (MTT) assay; activities of DNA-PK and Ku70/Ku86 were analyzed by SigmaTECT DNA-Dependent Protein Kinase Assay System and Ku70/Ku86 DNA Repair Kit, respectively.

RESULTS

Sensitivities to cisplatin correlated with the activities of DNA-PK/Ku86, but not with the Ku70 or other clinical parameters such as age, sex of the patients, pathological gradings of the tumors, or tumor size. The levels of DNA-PK activities also associated with pathological grading and Ku86, but not with other clinical parameters. The tumors of the patients who failed to respond to cisplatin-based chemotherapy tended to display higher activity levels of DNA-PK and Ku86. Furthermore, platinum-based chemotherapy did not result in significant changes of DNA-PK/Ku activities in four matched samples before and after chemotherapy.

CONCLUSION

Pretreatment determination of DNA-PK/Ku86 activities might be helpful in identifying patients who will actually benefit from platinum-based treatment.