Search

Seven new water-soluble cationic complexes of general formula [Pt(2-pyc)(N-N)]+ (where N-N is 2NH3, ethylenediamine (en), 1,2-diaminopropane (1,2-dap), 1,3-diaminopropane (1,3-dap), (+/-) trans-1,2-diaminocyclohaxane (dach), 2,2'-dipyridylamine (dpa) or 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), and 2-pyridinecarboxylate anion) have been prepared. These complexes have been characterized by conductance measurements, and by ultraviolet-visible, infrared (IR), and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The COSY (correlated spectroscopy) spectra of [Pt(2-pyc)(dpa)]+ and [Pt(2-pys)(dpa)]+ further support the structures of the above complexes with three nitrogen and one oxygen donor atoms in the first coordination sphere of platinum(II) with 1,2-diamine or alpha-diimine and 2-pyridinecarboxylate anion behaving as bidentate ligands. One of the compounds, [Pt(2-pyc)(dpa)]Cl, also shows a birefringence property in water. These compounds inhibit the growth of P388 lymphocytic leukemia cells. [Pt(2-pyc)(dpa)]+ shows I.D.50 value comparable to cisplatin. However, six other complexes show higher I.D.50 values than cisplatin. In addition, the inhibition studies also suggest that their target is DNA. Therefore, the interactions of four of the above complexes with calf thymus DNA have been studied by ultraviolet and fluorescence spectral methods. These studies suggest that [Pt(2-pyc)(NH3)2]+ and [Pt(2-pyc)(1,2-dap)+ bind to DNA by noncovalent interactions. On the other hand, [Pt(2-pyc)(dpa)]+ and [Pt(2-pyc)(phen)]+ bind to DNA by covalent monofunctional binding. The latter two complexes have also been interacted with PUC19 DNA. The gel electrophoresis studies of these interactions suggest that these complexes bind to DNA, and this binding leads to a conformational change in DNA.

This paper investigates the mechanism of mouse haemopoietic stem cell homing into the cytoskeleton depolymerizing agent Pentoxifylline was used, and shown to inhibit stem cell homing. The inhibition was reversible after 6 hours. The results obtained suggest that the haemopoietic stem cell homing receptor is anchored to cytoskeletal support intracellularly.

Four new palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes of formula [M(dipy)(AA)]+ (where dipy is 2,2'-dipyridylamine, AA is an anion of glycine or L-alanine, and M is Pd(II) or Pt(II)) have been synthesized and characterized with amino acids binding as bidentate ligands. These complexes are 1:1 electrolyte in conductivity water. Of the above four complexes, the two L-alanine complexes show ID50 values against P388 lymphocytic leukemia cells lower than cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II), whereas the two glycine complexes show ID50 values higher than cisplatin. The interaction of calf thymus DNA with the above complexes shows significant spectral changes in the presence of [Pt(dipy)(gly)]Cl, [Pd(dipy)(ala)]Cl, and [Pt(dipy)(ala)]Cl and the mode of binding between these complexes and DNA seems to be noncovalent.

Four water soluble complexes of the type [M(bpy)(a-x)]NO3, where M is Pd(II) or Pt(II), bpy is 2,2-bipyridine, and a-x is anion of 2-pyridinecarboxylic acid or 2-pyrazinecarboxylic acid, have been found to bind calf thymus DNA, possibly through hydrogen binding. [M(bpy)(2-py)]NO3 complexes (2-py is an anion of 2-pyridinecarboxylic acid) show I.D.50 values smaller than cisplatin whereas [M(bpy)(2-pyz)]NO3 complexes (2-pyz is an anion of 2-pyrazinecarboxylic acid) show I.D.50 values larger than cisplatin against P388 cancer cells.

Coordinately unsaturated Cu(II) and Fe(III) complexes of the stoichiometry [Cu(L)Cl] and [Fe(L)Cl2], where L = tridentate anion of 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone 1-thiosemicarbazone (2HNQTSC) and its 3-methyl derivative (3M2HNQTSC), were screened in vitro against P388 lymphocytic leukemia cells. Copper complexes were found to be more effective inhibitors of DNA synthesis than analogous Fe(III) compounds. The inhibitory activities are suggested to be related to Cu(II)-Cu(I) redox couple or nitrogen adduct formation.

Four new binuclear complexes of formula [M2(bipy)2(BAA)]Cl2 (where M is Pt(II) or Pd(II), bipy is 2,2'-bipyridine, and BAA is a dianion of meso-alpha-alpha'-diaminoadipic acid (DAA) or meso-alpha,alpha'-diaminosuberic acid (DSA) have been synthesized. These complexes have been characterized by chemical analysis and ultraviolet-visible, infrared, and 1H NMR spectroscopy. The mode of binding of ligands in these complexes has been ascertained by infrared and detailed 1H NMR spectroscopy. These complexes are 1:2 electrolyte in conductivity water. They have also been tested against P388 lymphocytic leukemia cells and their target is DNA molecules. [Pt2(bipy)2(DSA)]Cl2, [Pd2(bipy)2(DSA)Cl2, and [Pd2(bipy)2(DAA)]Cl2 show I.D.50 values comparable or lower than cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) and [Pt(bipy)(Ala)]Cl. In addition, binding studies of [Pt2(bipy)2(DSA)]Cl2 and [Pd2(bipy)2(DAA)]Cl2 to calf thymus DNA have been carried out and the mode of binding seems to be hydrogen bonding, as suggested earlier for analogous mononuclear amino acid-DNA complexes.

The effect of vitamin K3 (2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone) on Adriamycin (ADR) induced growth inhibition of drug sensitive and multidrug resistant P388 leukemia cells was evaluated. Exposure to ADR concentrations of 100-5000 ng simultaneously with 1 microM vitamin K3 elicited an enhanced inhibition of tumor cell survival. The effect of treatment with ADR alone, or in combination with vitamin K3 on DNA and RNA biosynthesis in the sensitive and resistant tumor cells, was also assessed. DNA and RNA biosynthesis inhibition was increased in P388/S (the parental cell line) and P388/ADR cells (the ADR resistant cell line which exhibits the multidrug resistant (MDR) phenotype) exposed to ADR after pretreatment for 3 h with vitamin K3. Concurrent administration in vivo of vitamin K3 and ADR illustrated a therapeutically significant increase (P less than 0.05) in the life span of sensitive and resistant tumor cell bearing animals. Vitamin K3 caused a depletion of the intracellular glutathione (GSH) levels in P388/S and P388/ADR leukemia cells but at concentrations greater than those that enhanced ADR cytotoxicity. Pretreatment of the tumor cells with 1 microM vitamin K3 induced a 35-50% (P less than 0.001) elevation in the intracellular ADR accumulation in MDR P388 leukemia cells, while such an effect was absent in P388/S tumor cells. DNA binding studies performed utilizing calf thymus DNA, indicated that vitamin K3 enhanced the intercalation potential of ADR and also altered the equilibrium between the free and bound form of ADR in a cell free system. These factors and their possible effects on the potentiation of ADR cytotoxicity and the therapeutic significance of utilizing vitamin K3 as an adjuvant in the chemotherapy of MDR tumors is discussed.

Eleven new complexes of formula [M(NN)(XO3)] (where M is Pd(II) or Pt(II); NN is 2,2'-bipyridine, 1,10-phenanthroline, 2,2'-dipyridylamine, ethylenediamine or (+-)trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane, and XO3(2-) is SeO3(2-) or TeO3(2-)) have been synthesized. These water soluble complexes have been characterized by chemical analysis and conductivity measurements as well as ultraviolet-visible and infrared spectroscopy. In these complexes the selenite or tellurite ligand coordinates to platinum(II) or palladium(II) as bidentate with two oxygen atoms. These complexes inhibit the growth of P 388 lymphocytic leukemia cells, their targets are DNA. The selenite complexes invariably show I.D.50 values less than cisplatin. However, the I.D.50 values of the tellurite complexes are usually higher than cisplatin, except that of [Pd(dach)(TeO3)] which has comparable I.D.50 values, as compared to cisplatin. [Pt(bipy)(SeO3)] and [Pd(bipy)(SeO3)] have been interacted with calf thymus DNA and bind to DNA through a coordinate covalent bond.

The syntheses of nine palladium(II) complexes of type [Pd(phen)(AA)]+ (where AA is an anion of glycine, L-alanine, L-leucine, L-phenylalanine, L-tyrosine, L-tryptophan, L-valine, L-proline, or L-serine) have been achieved. These palladium(II) complexes have been characterized by ultraviolet-visible, infrared, and 1H NMR spectroscopy. The binding studies of several complexes [M(NN)(AA)]+ (where M is Pd(II) as Pt(II), NN is 2,2'-bipyridine or 1,10-phenanthrodine, and AA is an anion of amino acid) with calf thymus DNA have been carried out using UV difference absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. The mode of binding of the above complexes to DNA suggests the involvement of the hydrogen bonding between them. Several complexes [M(phen)(AA)]+ (where M is Pd(II) or Pt(II) and AA is an anion of amino acid) have also been screened for cytotoxicity in P388 lymphocytic cells. Of them, only two complexes, [Pd(Phen)(Gly)]+ and [Pd(phen)(Val)]+, show comparable cytotoxicity, as cisplatin does.

The cytotoxicity induced by dipyrone alone, or in combination with adriamycin (ADR) was studied in human chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells. The inhibition of 3H-thymidine incorporation into DNA was taken as a measure of cytotoxicity. While dipyrone alone indicated marginal inhibition, its combination with ADR demonstrated a potentiating effect (p less than 0.001), which was found to be irreversible. The enhanced cytotoxicity of the combination was a result of an increased drug accumulation as studied by the uptake of 14C-adriamycin. Observations indicate that dipyrone can be used to enhance the cytotoxicity of ADR in human CML patients.

P388/R, the adriamycin (ADR) resistant subline of murine P388 lymphocytic leukemia was cross-resistant to the drug mitoxantrone (MTN). One hour hyperthermia at 42 degrees C (HT) was employed along with ADR (10 micrograms/ml) and MTN (10 micrograms/ml) for circumventing the drug resistance of P388/R cells in in vitro-in vivo bioassays. Inhibition in the incorporation of tritiated thymidine into cellular DNA was measured to check the in vitro cytotoxic effect. Hyperthermia, ADR and MTN alone could not bring about significant degree of inhibition of DNA biosynthesis whereas the combination of ADR and MTN along with HT resulted in a synergistic cytotoxic action (p less than 0.001 and 0.01, respectively). The cells were treated with the drugs in vitro and inoculated into BDF1 mice. It was observed that ADR, MTN or HT pretreatment of the cells resulted in an increase of the life-span of the mice by 4.0-25.0%, 10-20% and 44-50%, respectively, whereas the pretreatment of cells with the combination of ADR and MTN with HT resulted in an increase by 104-125% and 212-220% in life-span of the mice, respectively. Studies revealed that the combination ADR-HT and MTN-HT resulted in circumvention of resistance of P388/R cells to ADR and MTN.

The ability of bepridil, a calcium channel blocker, to potentiate the antitumor activity of mitoxantrone (MITO) in human chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells was evaluated. MITO and bepridil, when incubated alone with the CML cells for 4 h, indicated a dose-dependent increase in the inhibition of 3H-thymidine incorporation. Incorporation rate of the radiolabeled thymidine into DNA was used as a measure of cell growth. When the CML cells were exposed to MITO (1 microgram/ml) in the presence of bepridil (1 and 5 micrograms/ml), an enhancement in the inhibition of DNA biosynthesis was observed in 14 out of 17 human CML samples studied. This significant inhibition (p less than 0.001) of 3H-thymidine incorporation due to the combination was found to be completely irreversible. Bepridil was identified predominantly in the octanol phase in the octanol/water partitioning studies. This lipophilic property of drug response modulators was implicated in the observed increase in the intracellular uptake of anticancer drugs, which in turn led to an enhanced cytotoxicity correlating well with the MITO activity observed in this study. The results are suggestive of clinical utility of bepridil as an adjuvant to enhance the anticancer ability of MITO in the treatment of CML.

P388 mouse lymphocytic leukemia cells sensitive (P388/S) and resistant to adriamycin (P388/Adr), respectively, were exposed in vitro to 3 dose concentrations of adriamycin, mitoxantrone, vincristine and cisplatin in the presence and absence of extracellular Ca++ at 37 degrees C for 1 h. The absence of extracellular Ca++ enhanced the cytotoxicity of all the four drugs by 25 to 30% in P388/S cells. P388/Adr cells retained their resistance to adriamycin irrespective of the presence or absence of Ca++, however, vincristine and cisplatin to which P388/Adr cells, in normal course, show cross-resistance, exhibited a 30-40% enhancement of cytotoxicity in the absence of extracellular Ca++. Cross-resistance of P388/Adr to mitoxantrone was totally circumvented in the absence of extracellular Ca++.

Differential effects of adriamycin cytotoxicity and its cellular uptake were assessed in murine tumor models utilising adriamycin alone and in combination with nontoxic concentrations of nonionic polyoxyethylated lauryl ether surfactants Brij 30 and Brij 35. Parental P388 murine leukemia cell line sensitive to adriamycin, subline of P388 murine leukemia resistant to adriamycin, sarcoma-180 and Ehrlich ascites tumor were employed in this study. The results indicate an enhanced DNA biosynthesis inhibition by adriamycin when used in combination with Brij 30 or Brij 35 in all the murine tumor models. The increase in adriamycin cytotoxicity was due to an increased accumulation of adriamycin observed in the tumor models used. The present investigation demonstrates the necessity of utilising surface-active drug-response modulators to enhance the cytotoxicity of anticancer drugs and circumvent drug resistance.

Pentoxifylline (PTX) is a methylxanthine used clinically in the treatment of intermittent claudication. It is an active hemorheological agent used for the treatment of defective microcirculation. The use of the anticancer agent vincristine is limited by its toxicity to normal body tissues. The data presented in the present paper show that it is possible to achieve greater cell-kill by using vincristine in combination with pentoxifylline. The effect of pentoxifylline alone and in combination with vincristine was studied using membrane filtration technique in P388 leukemia (P388) and its subline P388/DOX resistant to doxorubicin and cross-resistant to vincristine. Pentoxifylline (100 mumol/l) had minimal inhibitory effect on DNA biosynthesis in P388 leukemia cells. Vincristine, at the concentration employed in this study did not show significant inhibition of DNA biosynthesis confirming multidrug resistant nature of P388/DOX cells. Pentoxifylline had a dose-sparing effect, wherein it enhanced the antiproliferative activity of vincristine at a clinically achievable concentration. The studies on reversibility of inhibition of DNA biosynthesis in P388/DOX cells pretreated with vincristine and pentoxifylline showed the irreversible nature of the effect of combination of vincristine and pentoxifylline. This observation warrants the possible use of pentoxifylline as an adjuvant in cancer chemotherapy.

The efficacy of dipyrone to modulate antitumor activity of mitoxantrone (MTN) and doxorubicin (DOX) was studied in vivo in mice bearing P388 murine lymphocytic leukemia sensitive (P388/S) and resistant P388/DOX) to DOX. P388/DOX-bearing mice demonstrated marginally higher sensitivity to dipyrone at 200 mg/kg when compared to P388/S-bearing mice. However, dipyrone could significantly enhance the antitumor activity of MTN and DOX in both P388/S and P388/DOX-tumor-bearing mice. MTN was cross-resistant to P388/DOX.

The inherent, insensitive nature of human chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells to antiproliferative effects of adriamycin (ADR) disallows its utility in the clinics. Efforts were directed towards sensitizing CML cells to ADR and mitoxanthrone (MITO) cytotoxicity by employing quinidine, an antiarhythmic agent. Inhibition of radiolabeled thymidine incorporation into DNA was used as a measure of drug activity. A dose-dependent inhibition of DNA biosynthesis was observed with increasing concentrations of ADR (0.1 to 100 micrograms/ml), MITO (0.05 to 5 micrograms/ml) and quinidine (0.1 to 50 mumol/l). When the CML cells were exposed to quinidine and ADR/MITO simultaneously, the observed enhancement in the antiproliferative activity of the anticancer drug was markedly less as compared to the inhibition of DNA synthesis observed in CML cells pretreated with quinidine for 1 h prior to exposure to the cytotoxic drugs. Pretreatment of CML cells with quinidine resulted in a significantly (p less than 0.001) increased synergistic inhibition of DNA biosynthesis which was completely irreversible. Results highlight the utility of quinidine as a drug response modulator in a schedule-dependent manner to potentiate the cytotoxicity of ADR and MITO and warrants further studies into a possible role of quinidine to increase the chemotherapeutic efficacy of antineoplastic drugs in the clinics.

Anti-tumour activity of RC-18, a pure isolate from Rubia cordifolia was repeatedly tested in different sets of experiments on a spectrum of experimental murine tumours, viz. P388, L1210, L5178Y, B16 melanoma, Lewis lung carcinoma and sarcoma-180. RC-18 exhibited significant increase in life span of ascites leukaemia P388, L1210, L5178Y and a solid tumour B16 melanoma. However, it failed to show any inhibitory effect on solid tumours, Lewis lung carcinoma and sarcoma 180. Promising results against a spectrum of experimental tumours suggest that RC-18 may lead to the development of a potential anti-cancer agent.

Adriamycin and mitoxantrone are known antitumor agents. The use of these agents is limited by their toxicity to normal body tissue. This paper shows that it is possible to achieve greater log cell-kill by using these drugs in combination with hyperthermia and diazepam. Experiments were carried out on 22 human chronic myeloid leukemia samples. 10 micrograms/ml adriamycin and 1 microgram/ml mitoxantrone were used in combination with hyperthermia 42 degrees C, for 3 h and 1 h respectively, with and without diazepam (1 microgram/ml). Inhibition of incorporation of radiolabeled nucleic acid precursor (3H-thymidine) in treated cells as compared to the untreated cells was used as a measure of cytotoxicity. The statistical evaluation of the data shows that the enhancement of drug cytotoxicity due to hyperthermia and diazepam is highly significant (p less than 0.001) in case of both the drugs.

Suppressor cells in the spleens of mice bearing i.p. transplants of adriamycin-resistant P388/ADR tumors were detected by their ability to abrogate the response of splenocytes from syngeneic mice bearing i.p. transplants of the parental adriamycin-sensitive P388 tumors, in a mixed splenocyte migration assay system. In further experiments the suppressor cells were found to be enriched after removal of nylonwool-adherent cells. Complete loss of the suppressive activity after exposure of the nylonwool-nonadherent splenocytes to monoclonal antithy 1.2 antibody and complement indicated the T-lineage of the suppressor cells. Furthermore, intracellular synthesis of proteins, but not DNA, was found to be essential for manifestation of the suppressive activity. In addition, the suppressor cells associated with P388/ADR tumors were found to be sensitive to gamma-radiation (5 Gy) and hydrocortisone (3 micrograms/ml).

The antitumor action of L-alanosine (NSC 153553) was investigated in murine leukemia P388 (P388/S), P388 resistant to adriamycin (P388/ADR), P388 resistant to vincristine (P388/VCR) and leukemia L5178Y sensitive to L-asparaginase (L5178Y/S). L-alanosine demonstrated good antineoplastic activity against P388/S and P388/ADR, whereas it showed better anticancer activity against P388/VCR and L5178Y/S at the various dose levels employed.

The cytotoxic effect of caracemide and hydroxyurea was compared in human chronic myeloid leukemia cells. Caracemide was found to be about twelve times more effective than hydroxyurea. The combined effect of caracemide, hydroxyurea and hydrophobic iron-chelating agents at relatively nontoxic concentrations was studied. Hydroxyurea, 2,2'-bipyridine and 1,10-phenanthroline combined with caracemide synergistically inhibited DNA synthesis, while Desferal did not show any such effect. Fe++ partially reversed the cytotoxicity of caracemide in combination with 2,2'-bipyridine, while it had no effect on the cytotoxicity of caracemide alone. Caracemide was found to have a stronger inhibitory effect on DNA synthesis in P388 lymphocytic leukemia and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells than hydroxyurea. However, bipyridine, phenanthroline and Desferal in combination with caracemide did not induce any synergistic inhibition. These data indicate the value of human tumor cells to predict drug responsiveness and suggest the further evaluation of caracemide and its combination with hydroxyurea and iron-chelating agents in the treatment of human leukemias.

The plant product Bouvardin (BVD; NSC 259968) exhibited high activity against P388 murine leukemia and B16 melanoma, but it was not effect against various other tumor models. BVD inhibited the synthesis of all the macromolecules, namely protein, DNA and RNA, in P388 cells in vitro. Protein synthesis was most susceptible to the drug action. However, DNA and RNA synthesis were affected to a lesser extent. Further studies revealed that BVD did not inhibit protein degradation in P388 leukemia cells.

The natural resistance of human chronic myeloid leukemia cells to adriamycin (ADR) was overcome by using the cell membrane modulator verapamil (VRP). The studies were done in vitro. [3H] thymidine incorporation inhibition was used as a measure of cytotoxicity. The results clearly show an increase in the effectiveness of ADR when used along with VRP, which may be due to the changes in the cell membrane brought about by VRP.

Experiments were carried out in vitro using DNA polymerase and ribonucleotide reductase inhibitors to investigate their cytotoxicity to P388 murine leukemia sensitive (P388/S) and resistant (P388/R) to adriamycin (ADR). DNA polymerase inhibitors such as cytosine arabinoside (ara-C) and aphidicolin elicited comparative inhibition of DNA biosynthesis in both parental and ADR-resistant tumor cells. However, ribonucleotide reductase inhibitors such as hydroxyurea (HU) and caracemide were collaterally more sensitive to P388/R cells. Inosine diglycolaldehyde (Inox) was ineffective in showing such a response. Pretreatment with HU significantly increased intracellular ADR levels and inhibition of RNA biosynthesis by ADR in P388/R cells while, in P388/S cells, sequential or concurrent treatment with HU did not enhance intracellular ADR levels. Mechanisms underlying such an effect, implications due to reduced intracellular ATP levels in drug-resistant cells, and the possible utility of using ribonucleotide reductase as a target in drug-resistant tumors for the therapeutic benefit are discussed.

Experiments were carried out in vitro on adriamycin (ADR) accumulation and cytotoxicity alone and in combination with calcium channel antagonist, verapamil (VRP), in ascites murine tumour models of Ehrlich carcinoma (EAC), sarcoma 180 (S180) and P388 lymphocytic leukaemia (P388). The cytotoxicity was assayed as the inhibition of [3H]-thymidine incorporation into the cellular DNA. ADR, a broad-spectrum anticancer drug, at a concentration of 10 micrograms/ml showed a cytotoxic effect in the order S180 greater than P388 greater than EAC. VRP alone exhibited the DNA synthesis inhibiting activity. The enhanced DNA biosynthesis inhibition of ADR along with VRP was maximal in S180 and marginal in P388 and EAC. The ADR retention after 3 hr of incubation in these tumour models correlated with the cytotoxicity. VRP enhanced the accumulation of ADR in all these cell lines. The property of potentiation in the activity and accumulation of ADR in these tumours exposed to a non-toxic concentration of VRP can best be utilized in cancer chemotherapy where the massive cytotoxic therapy, with a single large dose of ADR, can be substituted with a low dose, along with this drug-response modulator, for better therapeutic results.

The biochemical modulation of tumor cell response to increase the cytotoxicity of Hydroxyurea (HU), directed at the ribonucleotide reductase enzyme, has been studied in in vitro. Mice bearing ascites tumor models such as L1210 leukemia, Sarcoma 180 (S180) and Ehrlich ascites tumor (EAT) were employed in this study. The cytotoxicity of HU alone at various concentrations was dose dependent and showed the following order of sensitivity; L1210 greater than EAT greater than S180. The hydrophobic iron-chelating agent 2,2-bipyridyl significantly potentiated the antitumor activity of HU in all the murine tumor models studied. In contrast, hydrophilic iron-chelator, Desferal, did not show any cytotoxicity when combined with HU. The present study demonstrated the factors influencing the amelioration of HU cytotoxicity and possible therapeutic use of iron-chelating agents alone and with HU for better therapeutic results in clinics.

A subline of P388 leukemia resistant to adriamycin (P388/ADR) was developed by exposure to the drug in vivo. Resistance to adriamycin proved to be a stable characteristic of P388/ADR. There was no significant inhibition of nucleic acid synthesis in P388/ADR cells in vivo following a dose of 10 mg/kg of adriamycin in contrast to a prolonged and complete inhibition, particularly of DNA synthesis, observed in parental sensitive P388 leukemia cells. P388/ADR proved to be completely cross-resistant to a spectrum of anthracycline derivatives. Cross-resistance was observed to nonanthracycline DNA intercalating agents (with the exception of anthramycin), to agents which interfere with mitotic spindle function, and to antineoplastic inhibitors of protein biosynthesis (with the exception of bruceantin). P388/ADR was sensitive to antimetabolites and alkylating agents. Cross-resistance was also observed to several agents (ICRF-159, a terephthalanilide, taxol, lymphosarcin, bouvardin, and a crude extract of Ervatamia hyneana) whose mechanisms of action have not yet been clearly defined. This observation has proved useful in providing a lead for determination of mechanism of action of some of these drugs. The pattern of cross-resistance of a subline of P388 leukemia resistant to daunorubicin, though not studied extensively, appears to be similar to that of P388/ADR.

The effect of hydroxyurea (HU) was studied in 15 cases of human chronic myeloid leukemia cells (CML) in combination with iron-chelating agent, 2,2-bipyridine (bipyridine). The extent of (3H)thymidine incorporation in CML cells in vitro was taken as an index for the measurement of cytotoxicity. In the present study, we observed a potentiation in HU cytotoxicity by hydrophobic iron-chelator bipyridine (p less than 0.001) resulting in complete DNA biosynthesis inhibition. Both HU and bipyridine were used at a relatively non-toxic concentrations of 10(-4) M and 10 micrograms/ml, respectively. This inhibition was found to be partially reversible and a partial protective action by iron is also demonstrated. The various other metal chelators failed to sensitise CML cells to HU cytotoxicity. Implications with respect to the efficacy in cancer treatment is discussed.

The influence of hyperthermia (42 degrees C) on the reversibility of hydroxyurea- and the iron-chelator 2,2'-bipyridine-induced synergistic inhibition of DNA biosynthesis was studied in intact P388 murine lymphocytic leukemia cells in vitro. The cytotoxicity caused by hydroxyurea alone and in combination with bipyridine for 3 h at 37 degrees C and 42 degrees C was found to be completely reversible. However, the inhibition of DNA biosynthesis was irreversible when hydroxyurea- and iron-chelate-treated and washed cells at 37 degrees C were subjected to hyperthermia at 42 degrees C. A potentiation in DNA biosynthesis was also observed when the P388 cells were subjected to hyperthermia along with the combination of hydroxyurea and 2,2'-bipyridine. These effects are probably due to the heat-sensitive nature of the ribonucleotide reductase enzyme, the target site of the effect of hydroxyurea and 2,2'-bipyridine.

Vincristine and prednisolone are important drugs for induction therapy in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In our experience quite a number of patients relapse during maintenance therapy after induction. At this stage some of the patients are resistant to vincristine and prednisolone. In the present study we attempted to explore whether vincristine could be used together with cytosine arabinoside. Vincristine being a phase-specific agent is known to synchronize the leukemic cells in vitro and a drug like cytosine arabinoside added after vincristine at the appropriate time is expected to have added cell kill. In vitro studies with leukemic cells confirmed the expected increase in cell kill with the addition of cytosine arabinoside 6 h after vincristine treatment. Simultaneously, the same approach was explored in the clinic. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients who were resistant to vincristine and prednisolone for reinduction, remitted with this strategy, i.e. with the addition of cytosine arabinoside 6 h after the vincristine treatment.

Eight new palladium complexes of the formula [Pd(bipy)(AA)]Cl 1 or 2 H2O (where bipy is 2,2'-bipyridine and AA is an anion of glycine, L-alanine, L-leucine, L-proline, L-serine, L-lysine, L-asparagine, or L-glutamine) have been synthesized by reaction of [Pd(bipy)Cl2] with an appropriate mono sodium salt of amino acid in water. These complexes have been characterized by chemical analysis and by visible, infrared, and 1H NMR spectroscopy. The detailed 1H NMR and infrared spectral studies of these complexes ascertain the mode of binding of amino acids to palladium through nitrogen of terminal -NH2 group and oxygen of terminal -COO- group. The molar conductance values of these complexes in water suggest them to be 1:1 electrolytes. These complexes have also shown growth inhibition against L1210 lymphoid leukemic, P388 lymphocytic leukemic, Sarcoma 180, and Ehrlich ascitic tumor cells. Some of these complexes show better 50% inhibitory dose values than cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II).

Cell surface modification was studied in a subline of murine leukemia resistant to adriamycin (P388/ADR). Lectin-induced agglutination was used as a probe. Agglutination was studied using two plant lectins, wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) and Ricinus communis agglutinin-I (RCA-I). A 7-fold higher amount of WGA and 14-fold higher amount of RCA-I were required to bring about minimum agglutination of P388/S as compared to P388/ADR. The present studies clearly indicate a change in the plasma membrane of P388/ADR cells.

The effects of emetine on protein and DNA synthesis in vitro and in vivo were compared in P388 leukemia cells (P388/S) and in an adriamycin-resistant subline of P388 leukemia (P388/ADR), which was completely cross-resistant in vivo to emetine. In P388/ADR cells in vitro no apparent resistance to emetine was found; no difference in cytotoxicity was evident in P388/S or P388/ADR cells exposed to emetine in vitro for 1 or 6 hours. Protein and DNA synthesis was inhibited to a similar extent in P388/S and P388/ADR cells at equivalent concentrations of the drug. However, inhibition of protein synthesis by emetine in P388/ADR cells was more reversible than in P388/S cells when the cells were exposed to emetine and subsequently incubated in drug-free medium for 1 hour prior to addition of labeled L-leucine. Differences between P388/S and P388/ADR cells were evident in vivo. The duration of inhibition (greater than 90%) of protein and DNA synthesis in P388/ADR cells was about 8 hours compared to 24 hours in P388/S cells following administration of a therapeutic dose of 25 mg emetine/kg to tumor-bearing mice. The level of radioactivity in the P388/ADR cells 24 hours after in vivo administration of the emetine analog, (+/-)-[3'-14C]2,3-dehydroemetine, was only 26% of that in P388/S cells. This evidence suggests that the resistance of P388/ADR to emetine is due to decreased retention of the drug.

Lymphocytic leukemia P388 and Sarcoma-180 cells were exposed to various concentrations (0.01 mM to 0.04 mM) of lonidamine at 37 degrees C and 43 degrees C for 30 min and 60 min in vitro. Similarly combined effect of lonidamine and bouvardin on these tumor cells was also assessed at 37 degrees C and 43 degrees C. The effect was evaluated by comparing the rate of 3H-thymidine incorporation in treated cells to that of control cells. It was observed that at 37 degrees C lonidamine did not exert cytotoxic effect on P388 cells at prescribed time interval. Sarcoma-180 cells, however, showed significant sensitivity to the drug at 37 degrees C. Lonidamine exhibited greater cytotoxicity at 43 degrees C towards both P388 and Sarcoma-180 cells at 30 and 60 min exposure. Lonidamine also enhanced cytotoxicity of bouvardin in P388 and reversed the natural resistance of Sarcoma-180 cells to bouvardin at 37 degrees C.

Four new water soluble complexes of the formula [Pt(DA)(DDTC)]NO3 (where DA is 2,2'-bipyridine, 1,10-phenanthroline, 1,2-diaminopropane, or 1,2-diaminocyclohexane, and DDTC is diethyldithiocarbamate anion) have been synthesized by reaction of platinum-diamine/diimine diaqua complex with sodium diethyldithiocarbamate in molar ratio of 1:1. These complexes have been characterized by the chemical analysis, and ultraviolet-visible, infra-red and 1H NMR spectroscopy. The infrared and 1H NMR spectral studies of these complexes have ascertained the modes of binding of diamine/diimine and diethyldithiocarbamate to platinum. The molar conductance values of these platinum complexes in conductivity water suggest them to be 1:1 electrolytes. These four complexes and two other complexes containing ethylenediamine and 1,3-diaminopropane ligands have been tested against P-388 lymphocytic leukemic cells. Out of them only 2,2'-bipyridine and 1,10-phenanthroline complexes show 1.D.50 values less than cisplatin.

The cytotoxic effect of bouvardin (BVD) a protein synthesis inhibitor was studied separately and in combination with verapamil (VRP), a vasodilator and hyperthermia (43 degrees C) against Sarcoma 180 (S 180) and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) tumour cells in vitro. S 180 cells exhibited natural resistance to hyperthermia and BVD, whereas EAC tumour cells were found to be sensitive. VRP alone did not show cytotoxicity to either tumour cells. A combination of BVD and VRP at an elevated temperature resulted in a greater cell kill in the EAC tumour cell line whereas the natural resistance of S 180 tumour cells to the drug BVD and hyperthermia was circumvented by combination with VRP. Combination of BVD, hyperthermia and VRP resulted in greater cell kill, compared to separate treatment with the single agents. The cytotoxicity was evaluated by comparing the inhibition of incorporation of 3H-thymidine in treated cells to that in untreated cells.

Reversal of natural resistance to bouvardin (NSC 259968) has been attained in vitro and in vivo, by the calcium influx blocker verapamil in sarcoma 180 cells insensitive to bouvardin. Verapamil increased the in vitro lethality of the tumor cells following exposure with cells for 1 and 3 h as a result of the cytotoxic effect of bouvardin. Similar results were observed in vivo when the tumor cells were exposed to verapamil and then treated with bouvardin, showing a significant percent increase in the lifespan to 30% and 45%. This suggested that this calcium channel blocker had interacted with tumor cell membrane to modulate the response of the cells, and make them more amenable to the drug action.

Five new copper(II) complexes of 5-phenylazo-3-methoxy salicylidene thiosemicarbazone and N4 substituted thiosemicarbazones have been synthesized. They have been characterized by chemical analyses, magnetic, conductance data, and by ultraviolet (UV)--visible, infrared, and electron spin resonance spectra. The complexes have the general formula CuL2, where HL is the ligand. One representative complex has been screened in vitro and in vivo against P388 lymphocytic leukemia cells sensitive and resistant to adriamycin (P388/S and P388/R). It has shown promising growth inhibition activity. We are reporting here for the first time the antineoplastic activity of this complex against experimental tumor systems.

Studies on mice bearing P388 adriamycin sensitive and resistant lymphocytic leukemia were carried out to compare antitumor activity of adriamycin dissolved in Tween 80 (10% in distilled water) with that of adriamycin dissolved in distilled water alone. The antitumor activity of adriamycin dissolved in acqueous solutions of Tween 80 was higher than that of adriamycin dissolved in distilled water against P388 leukemia sensitive to adriamycin. However, no change in the activity was observed in P388 leukemia resistant to adriamycin when the drug was administered either in aqueous solution of Tween 80 or in distilled water alone.

Mitoxantrone, a new anticancer drug has DNA-binding properties similar to anthracycline antibiotics. In the present studies, effect of the drug has been tested in vitro on human chronic myeloid leukemia cells at 37 degrees C and 42 degrees C. Inhibition of 3H-tritiated thymidine incorporation in the drug-treated cells compared with untreated cells has been used as the parameter of cytotoxicity of the drug and hyperthermia. Cell samples from 11 CML patients who did not receive any chemotherapy showed less response to the drug at 0.5 micrograms/ml and 1 microgram/ml at 37 degrees C. Exposure of CML cells to 42 degrees C for 2 h indicated 13 to 44% inhibition in 3H-TdR incorporation. However, when CML cells were exposed to mitoxantrone for 2 h at 42 degrees C the 3H-thymidine incorporation was inhibited to the extent of 27 to 71%, indicating greater cellular damage with this combination.

Six new platinum complexes of the formula [Pt(2,2'-bipyridine)(amino acid)]n+, where n = 1 to 2 and amino acid is an anion of L-histidine, L-lysine, L-asparagine, L-phenylalanine, L-tryptophan, or L-tyrosine, have been prepared by interaction of [Pt(2,2'-bipyridine)Cl2] and an appropriate amino acid (sodium salt) in water or water-methanol mixture. They have been characterized by chemical analyses and spectral methods such as ultraviolet-visible, infrared, and 1H NMR spectroscopy. The 1H NMR studies of these complexes ascertain the modes of binding of amino acids to platinum. The histidine binds to platinum through the nitrogen of a -NH2 group and another nitrogen of heterocyclic ring. All other amino acids bind to platinum through nitrogen of a -NH2 group and oxygen of a -COO- group. The mode of binding of some amino acids to platinum in these complexes has been further confirmed by infrared spectroscopy, and the formulations of these complexes have been supported by conductivity measurements. These six amino acid complexes and also other complexes of glycine, alanine, leucine, serine, cysteine, methionine, and glutamine have shown growth inhibition against P-388 lymphocytic leukemic cells.