Membranes and cancer chemotherapy

Differential Alteration of Cellular Lipids in Drug Sensitive and Resistant P388 Leukemia Cells by Clofibrate: Effects on Mitoxantrone Cytotoxicity

Earlier Investigations have Indicated a difference in the lipid profiles of drug-sensitive and drug-resistant tumor cells. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of alterations in the cellular lipid compositions by clofibrate (CPIB), an anti-hyperlipidemic agent, on mitoxantrone (Mtn) cytotoxicity in murine P388 leukemia cells sensitive (P388/S) and resistant (P388/Adr) to adriamycin and in human chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells. CPIB did not elicit any significant alterations in the lipid levels of P388/S cells, whereas in the P388/Adr cells it brought about a 14% and 49% decrease in the levels of cholesterol and triglyceride respectively. Inhibition of 3H-thymidine incorporation was utilized as a measure of cellular cytotoxicity. CPIB caused a dose dependent inhibition of DNA and RNA biosynthesis in P388/S, P388/Adr and CML cells. The combination of CPIB and Mtn induced a greater cytotoxicity in P388/Adr cells as compared to P388/S cells, as shown by enhanced inhibition of 3H-thymidine incorporation in P388/Adr cells. Similar results were observed when 3H-uridine was used as a measure of cellular cytotoxicity. These observations were further confirmed in fresh CML cell samples, in which the combination of CPIB with Mtn induced an irreversible and synergistic Inhibition of DNA biosynthesis. Results warrant extensive studies on CPIB as a clinical modulator to enhance the antiproliferative activity of Mtn.

Antiproliferative Effects of Mitoxantrone in Adr-Sensitive and Adr-Resistant P388 Leukemia Cells Enhanced by Vitamin K3

Vitamin K3 was employed as a resistance-modifying agent to Investigate its activity in enhancing mitoxantrone (MITO)-induced cytotoxicity in parental (P388/S) and multidrug resistant (P388/ADR) P388 leukemia cells. Vitamin K3 potentiated the antitumor effects of MITO in P388/S and P388/ ADR tumor cells as monitored by inhibition of tumor cell survival (MTT assay). MITO and vitamin K3 in combination effected an enhanced inhibition of [3H]thymidine (DNA synthesis) and [3H]uridine (RNA synthesis) and also Increased the life span of the sensitive and resistant tumor-bearing animals. The effect of vitamin K3 on the induction of DNA strand breaks by MITO was also examined. Increased fragmentation of DNA was illustrated in the sensitive and resistant P388 leukemia cells exposed to the combination. Observations indicate the restoration of sensitivity in P388/ADR cells to MITO by vitamin K3 that may be due to its ability to increase the MITO-induced DNA strand breaks.

Effects of Lipids on Cancer Therapy

The fatty acid composition of cancer cell membranes can change substantially when the cells are exposed to different types of fat. Such change occurs when tumors are grown in animals fed high-fat diets that differ in degree of unsaturation or during culture in media supplemented with various fatty acids. Certain physical and functional properties of the membrane are modified when the polyunsaturated fatty acid content is increased, and the cells become more sensitive to hyperthermia or treatment with doxorubicin. These findings suggest a potential role for lipid nutrition in cancer therapy. By altering the properties of the membrane lipids, changes in the dietary fat intake may provide a new approach for enhancing the effectiveness of certain antineoplastic therapies.

Opposing actions of endocannabinoids on cholangiocarcinoma growth: recruitment of Fas and Fas ligand to lipid rafts

Cholangiocarcinomas are devastating cancers of biliary origin with limited treatment options. Modulation of the endocannabinoid system is being targeted to develop possible therapeutic strategies for a number of cancers; therefore, we evaluated the effects of the two major endocannabinoids, anandamide and 2-arachidonylglycerol, on numerous cholangiocarcinoma cell lines. Although anandamide was antiproliferative and proapoptotic, 2-arachidonylglycerol stimulated cholangiocarcinoma cell growth. Specific inhibitors for each of the cannabinoid receptors did not prevent either of these effects nor did pretreatment with pertussis toxin, a G(i/o) protein inhibitor, suggesting that anandamide and 2-arachidonylglycerol did not exert their diametric effects through any known cannabinoid receptor or through any other G(i/o) protein-coupled receptor. Using the lipid raft disruptors methyl-beta-cyclodextrin and filipin, we demonstrated that anandamide, but not 2-arachidonylglycerol, requires lipid raft-mediated events to inhibit cellular proliferation. Closer inspection of the lipid raft structures within the cell membrane revealed that although anandamide treatment had no observable effect 2-arachidonylglycerol treatment effectively dissipated the lipid raft structures and caused the lipid raft-associated proteins lyn and flotillin-1 to disperse into the surrounding membrane. In addition, anandamide, but not 2-arachidonylglycerol, induced an accumulation of ceramide, which was required for anandamide-induced suppression of cell growth. Finally we demonstrated that anandamide and ceramide treatment of cholangiocarcinoma cells recruited Fas and Fas ligand into the lipid rafts, subsequently activating death receptor pathways. These findings suggest that modulation of the endocannabinoid system may be a target for the development of possible therapeutic strategies for the treatment of this devastating cancer.

Effects of 4-alkylmorpholine N-oxides on ATP-producing processes in Ehrlich ascites and L1210 leukaemia cells

The main purpose of the present investigation was to study the effect of the homologous series of 4-alkylmorpholine N-oxides on ATP-producing processes in Ehrlich ascites and L1210 murine leukaemia cells. The effects on aerobic glucose consumption, lactic acid formation, content of total (T-SH) and non-protein thiol groups (NP-SH), endogenous and exogenous respiration and the level of ATP in tumour cells incubated in vitro were investigated. 4-Dodecylmorpholine N-oxide (DMNO), one of the most active compounds, decreased the level of ATP immediately after addition to the suspension of Ehrlich cells in an ice bath. After 2 h incubation at 37 degrees C the drop in the ATP level was much lower. A possible explanation for the decrease in the ATP level might be interaction of the amine oxide with the cell membrane.

Cytoxicity of 1-alkylperhydroazepine N-oxides and quantitative structure-activity relationships

A new class of nonaromatic amine oxides was tested for cytotoxic activity. The main aim of the present investigation was to screen a series of 1-alkylperhydroazepine N-oxides for in vitro cytotoxicity and to find out whether there is a quantitative structure-activity correlation (QSAR) between cytotoxic effect and structure (as a structural parameter the number of carbon atoms m in the alkyl chain was used). Cytotoxicity was determined here by inhibition of incorporation of [14C]adenine into nucleic acid or [14C]valine into proteins in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells. On the basis of primary screening, one of the most active compounds, namely 1-tetradecylperhydroazepine N-oxide (TPNO), was chosen for further biochemical study. The drug inhibited the incorporation rate of [14C] labeled precursors (adenine, thymidine, uridine, valine) into appropriate macromolecules of Ehrlich cells. The extent of inhibition was dependent on both time and drug concentration. The lengthening of the alkyl chain in 1-alkylperhydroazepine N-oxides positively affected their cytotoxic activity in EAC cells. For these compounds the optimal m value is 12-14.

1H-NMR detectable fatty acyl chain unsaturation in excised leiomyosarcoma correlate with grade and mitotic activity

We report on the use of 1H-NMR two-dimensional total correlated spectroscopy (2D TOCSY) at 600 MHz for an ex vivo analysis of fatty acyl chain lipid in normal smooth muscle and a series of primary retroperitoneal leiomyosarcomas. These TOCSY spectra were used to identify and quantitate the methylene protons situated between unsaturated site protons (D) to those bordered by only one unsaturated site proton (C). The D/C cross-peak volume ratios determined for oleic (18:1), linoleic (18:2), linolenic (18:3), and arachidonic (20:4) acids were 0.0, 1.3, 2.7, and 4.0, respectively, suggesting that this ratio can be a measure of the degree of unsaturation for fatty acyl chains of lipids. The D/C cross-peak volume ratio was found to be proportional to the mean mitotic activity (r = 0.94) in nine smooth muscle tissues. These results suggest, that for leiomyosarcoma, the degree of fatty acyl unsaturation may be an important determinant of the metastatic potential of these tumors. Furthermore, application of TOCSY for the ex vivo study of smooth muscle tumors would potentially serve as a pathologist-independent and quantitative method for assessment of leiomyosarcoma grade and mitotic activity thereby rendering a more accurate staging of patients.

Response to adriamycin of transplasma membrane electron transport in adriamycin-resistant and nonresistant HL-60 cells

Adriamycin, 10(-8) - 10(-5) M, inhibited transplasma membrane electron transport of uninduced HL-60 cells susceptible to adriamycin and not in uninduced HL-60 cells resistant to adriamycin as measured by reduction of external ascorbate free radical. Electron flow across the plasma membrane was measured with the intact living cells by means of a simple assay procedure whereby the transported electrons were captured by ascorbate free radical to slow the rate of chemical oxidation of ascorbate. The response to adriamycin was rapid with maximum inhibition in less than 1 min. Preincubation was not required and the inhibition presumably was not mediated through effects on DNA replication or transcription. Except at the highest concentration tested of 10 microM, both transplasma membrane electron transport and growth were unaffected by adriamycin with a line of HeLa cells resistant to the drug. The findings provide evidence, using a physiological acceptor, ascorbate free radical, for a direct inhibition of transmembrane electron transport of HL-60 cells by adriamycin that correlates closely with adriamycin inhibition of cell growth. The lack of response with resistant cells suggests an alternative mechanism for adriamycin resistance not necessarily based on transport control.

Effects of incubation with liposomes at different temperatures on cultured melanoma cells (M14)

A melanoma cell line (M14) was used in order to investigate the effect of hyperthermia on the mechanisms of interaction between liposomes and cultured cells. The treatment was performed by adding different concentrations of multilamellar liposomes (L-alpha-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine, stearylamine and cholesterol in the ratio 7:2:1) to cell cultures which were then incubated at 37.0 or 41.5 degrees C for 2 h. The damage induced by liposome treatment in normothermia or hyperthermia was evaluated by determining cell survival and by electron microscopy. When different concentrations of liposomes were used, a dose-dependent impairment of cell survival was observed. An enhancement of the cytotoxic effect was observed when the treatment was performed at 41.5 degrees C. This effect went on even after 24 h from the end of the treatment, but the difference between cells treated in normothermia and hyperthermia was remarkably reduced. The mechanism of the liposome-plasma membrane interaction has been investigated by electron microscopy. Our observations demonstrated that the outer bilayer of the multilamellar liposomes was capable of fusing with the plasma membrane, inducing changes in its fluidity and molecular organization. Following this process the inner liposomal bilayers entered the cell. These effects seemed to be favoured when the treatment was performed under mild hyperthermic conditions, accounting for the synergic cytotoxic action displayed by the liposome-hyperthermia association.

Inhibition of transplasma membrane electron transport by transferrin-adriamycin conjugates

Transplasma membrane electron transport from HeLa cells, measured by reduction of ferricyanide or diferric transferrin in the presence of bathophenanthroline disulfonate, is inhibited by low concentrations of adriamycin and adriamycin conjugated to diferric transferrin. Inhibition with the conjugate is observed at one-tenth the concentration required for adriamycin inhibition. The inhibitory action of the conjugate appears to be at the plasma membrane since (a) the conjugate does not transfer adriamycin to the nucleus, (b) the inhibition is observed within three minutes of addition to cells, and (c) the inhibition is observed with NADH dehydrogenase and oxidase activities of isolated plasma membranes. Cytostatic effects of the compounds on HeLa cells show the same concentration dependence as for enzyme inhibition. The adriamycin-ferric transferrin conjugate provides a more effective tool for inhibition of the plasma membrane electron transport than is given by the free drug.

Biochemical basis of cytotoxic activity of some new N'-oxides of N',N'-dimethylaminoalkylamides of dodecanoic acid

The objective of the present investigation was to screen a series of new N'-oxides of N',N'-dimethylaminoalkylamides of dodecanoic acid for activity in vitro and to investigate the biochemical mode of action. On the basis of primary screening, one of the most active compounds, namely the N'-oxide of 10-(N',N'-dimethylaminodecyl)amide of dodecanoic acid (n = 10) was chosen for detailed biochemical study. This compound inhibited the incorporation of 14C-precursors (adenine, valine, thymidine, uridine) into appropriate macromolecules of P388 murine leukemia and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells. The amine oxide also interfered with energy-yielding processes (aerobic glycolysis, endogenous respiration). Cytotoxicity is a consequence of the cytolytic activity of the compounds mentioned above. Membranous effects were demonstrated by the measuring of the release of cytoplasmic materials absorbing at 260 and 280 nm, marker enzyme activities (LDH, MDH), release of protein from the cells into the culture medium, as well as by morphological examination. It is evident that the site of action of the amine oxides investigated was the biological membrane which, after interaction with the amine oxides, showed changes in molecular organization and osmotic and permeability characteristics.

Relationships between the chemical structure and cytotoxicity of 4-alkylmorpholine N-oxides

The main objective of the present investigation was to screen a series of 4-alkylmorpholine N-oxides for in vitro cytotoxicity and to find out whether there is a quantitative structure-activity correlation (QSAR) between cytotoxic effect represented here by inhibition of incorporation of [14C]adenine into nucleic acid or [14C]valine into proteins in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells and structure (as a structural parameter the number of carbon atoms m in the alkyl chain was used). On the basis of primary screening, one of the most active compounds, namely 4-dodecylmorpholine N-oxide, was chosen for further biochemical study. The drug inhibited the incorporation rate of [14C] precursors (adenine, thymidine, uridine, valine) into appropriate macromolecules of Ehrlich cells, the extent of inhibition being dependent on both time and concentration of the compound in the incubation medium. The lengthening of the alkyl chain in 4-alkyl-morpholine N-oxides positively affected their cytotoxic activity in Ehrlich cells. For these compounds the optimal m-value is 15-16.

Synergistic cytotoxic actions of cisplatin and liposomal valinomycin on human ovarian carcinoma cells

We have previously shown that the toxicity of valinomycin (VM), a membrane-active agent with antineoplastic activity, can be dramatically reduced with no loss of the antitumor efficacy of the drug by incorporating it into liposomes. In the present study, we investigated the interaction between cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (CDDP) and VM in terms of in vitro cytotoxicity to human ovarian tumor cells. Using the MTT assay and analyzing the data using the median-effect principle, we showed that synergistic cytotoxic interactions exist between CDDP and VM in their liposomal form. The degree of cytotoxic synergism was influenced by the duration of drug exposure and the dose ratio. The cellular accumulation of platinum by ovarian cells at 37 degrees C was slightly higher after exposure to VM as compared with controls; however, it is not clear that this accounts for the cytotoxic synergism. These results suggest that the combination of liposomal VM and CDDP may have merit as a form of localized drug delivery for the treatment of ovarian cancer disseminated within the peritoneal space.

Semiquinones derived from anthraquinone-containing antitumor drugs can partition into phosphatidylcholine bilayers

Semiquinones derived from anthraquinone-containing antitumor drugs (doxorubicin, daunorubicin and 4'-epidoxorubicin) were generated by the hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase system in argon-saturated phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) in the presence of egg-yolk phosphatidylcholine multilamellar vesicles (MLVs) containing 1 mol% of a doxylstearic acid (DSA) isomer. The destruction of the electron spin resonance signal corresponding to 5-, 12- and 15-DSA included in the MLVs follows pseudo-first-order kinetics. Higher rates of destruction are obtained for the 12-DSA isomer which indicates that these semiquinones can localize preferentially about the depth of the 12th position of stearic acid in membranes. It is demonstrated that DSA destruction is due to a reversible reduction of DSA to the hydroxylamine species. This work shows that anthracycline semiquinones can partition into phosphatidylcholine bilayers under anoxic conditions which may imply another pathway in their cytotoxic action.

Effect of carminomycin on the viability of fibroblasts from patients with regular trisomy 21

The sensitivity of three human fibroblast lines, trisomic with respect to chromosome 21, to an anthracycline antibiotic carminomycin was compared with that of a normal fibroblast line using a 51Cr release assay. It was found that for an intermediate antibiotic concentration (10 microM) the sensitivity of trisomic fibroblasts, of increased content of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase was lower. These results suggest a role for superoxide-mediated membrane damage in the cytotoxic action of anthracycline antibiotics.

Decrease of liver energy charge, ATP and glutathione at concomitant intraarterial administration of adriamycin and degradable starch microspheres in rat

Adriamycin (Adr) and degradable starch microspheres (DSM) were infused either combined or each separately into the hepatic artery in rats. Liver ATP, GTP, UDP-glucuronic acid, UDP-N-acetyl-hexosamine and energy charge and glutathione were decreased 20 min later with combined treatment but not by Adr or DSM when infused alone. the nucleotide levels were normalized 60 min after the combined treatment. After one week, the Adr rats showed a less weight gain than controls. The Adr + DSM rats lost weight. Only minor changes were found in the livers at microscopical examination at this time.

Evaluation of quinidine effect on the antitumor activity of adriamycin and mitoxantrone in adriamycin-sensitive and -resistant P388 leukemia cells

Utilizing the P388 murine leukemia cells sensitive (P388/S) and resistant (P388/ADR) to Adriamycin (ADR), we evaluated the effect of quinidine, an anti-arrhythmic agent, on the cytotoxic activity of ADR and Mitoxantrone (MITO), both in vitro as well as in vivo. Quinidine enhanced the cytotoxicity of both ADR and MITO in P388/S and P388/ADR cells, as assessed by the decrease in color intensity of formazan crystal in the MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay. A dose dependent inhibition of 3H-thymidine and 3H-uridine incorporation was observed when the P388/S and P388/ADR cells were exposed to quinidine alone. A non-toxic concentration of quinidine (5 microM) enhanced the DNA biosynthesis inhibition induced by ADR (55 to 65%) and MITO (37 to 44%) in P388/ADR cells, indicating reversal of resistance, while in P388/S cells only a minimal increase in DNA biosynthesis inhibition was observed. The combination of quinidine at doses of 50 to 100 mg/kg significantly potentiated the antitumor activity of ADR and MITO in P388/ADR bearing mice, whereas the potentiation of ADR and MITO antitumor response was lower in P388/S bearing mice. Quinidine increased the cellular levels of ADR by 53 to 126% in P388/ADR cells in vitro, but failed to indicate such elevated levels of cellular ADR in P388/S cells. This enhanced intracellular accumulation of ADR in P388/ADR cells, explains the therapeutic efficacy of ADR and MITO in P388/ADR, both in vitro as well as in vivo. Results suggest the efficacy of quinidine to ameliorate the antitumor effects of ADR and MITO in drug resistant tumor cells.