Procjena cito-/genotoksičnosti irinotekana u V79-stanicama primjenom komet-testa, mikronukleus-testa i testa kromosomskih aberacija

Irinotecan is a topoisomerase I interactive agent, widely used in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. The genotoxic effects of the maximum single dose (18 μg mL-1), recommended monotherapy dose (9 μg mL-1), and recommended combined therapy dose (4.5 μg mL-1) of irinotecan were studied on V79 cells using the comet assay, chromosome aberration assay, and micronucleus test. The cells were treated with irinotecan for 2 h or 24 h. The statistical signifi cance of the results was determined using the one-way ANOVA test and a nonparametric Mann Whitney U test. The comet assay did not show dose-dependent or time-dependent effects. The chromosome aberration analysis showed large DNA rearrangements, i.e., chromosome exchanges. Although the exposed cultures showed a signifi cant increase in micronucleated cells in respect to control, no dose-dependent relation was established among the treated cultures. Timedependent effect was also not observed.Irinotekan je citotoksični lijek koji inhibira enzim DNA-topoizomerazu I. U širokoj je primjeni u terapiji metastatskog karcinoma kolona i rektuma. U uvjetima in vitro primjenom komet-testa, analize kromosomskih aberacija i mikronukleus-testa na V79-stanicama istražili smo genotoksični učinak maksimalne pojedinačne doze (18 μg mL-1), preporučene monoterapijske doze (9 μg mL-1) i preporučene doze irinotekana za kombiniranu terapiju (4,5 μg mL-1). Kulture stanica bile su tretirane irinotekanom 2 h i 24 h. Statistička značajnost određivana je jednosmjernim ANOVA-testom i neparametrijskim Mann Whitneyevim U-testom. Komet-testom nije utvrđen učinak koncentracije i/ili vremena izloženosti. Analiza kromosomskih aberacija pokazala je prisutnost izmjena kromatida, tj. porast broja triradijusa i tetraradijusa. Iako je u kulturama stanica izloženi irinotekanu opažen značajan porast broja mikronukleusa u odnosu na kontrolu, nije uočena ovisnost o dozi lijeka ni o vremenu izloženosti u opisanim eksperimentalnim uvjetima. Dobiveni rezultati upućuju na genotoksičnost irinotekana za V79-stanice. Nijednom od primijenjenih metoda nije utvrđena ovisnost učinka irinotekana o vremenu ili dozi

Comparison of HER-2 overexpression in primary breast cancer and metastatic sites and its effect on biological targeting therapy of metastatic disease

HER-2 overexpression, a predictive marker of tumour aggressiveness and responsiveness to therapy, occurs in 20–30% of breast cancer. Although breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease, HER-2 measurement is carried out in primary tumour. This study aims to evaluate HER-2 overexpression in primary and metastases and its effect on treatment decisions. Biopsies from primary breast cancer and corresponding metastases from 58 patients were studied. HER-2 overexpression was evaluated immunohistochemically in all primary and metastatic sites. Positive overexpression in primary and/or metastases was confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH). Discordance in HER-2 overexpression between primary and metastatic sites was 14% (eight of 58 patients). Concordance was found in 50 (86%) of patients (95% CI: 77–95). In one patient (2%), HER-2 was negative in metastasis but positive in primary. In seven (12%) patients, HER-2 was positive in metastases and negative in primary (95% CI: 3.7–20), and three of them responded to trastuzumab. Gene amplification by FISH was found in all cases with HER-2 positive (+2 and +3) by immunohistochemistry. Our data suggest that a possible discordance of HER-2 overexpression between primary and metastases should be considered when making treatment decisions in patients with primary HER-2-negative tumours

A phase I and pharmacokinetic study of MAG-CPT, a water-soluble polymer conjugate of camptothecin

Polymeric drug conjugates are a new and experimental class of drug delivery systems with pharmacokinetic promises. The antineoplastic drug camptothecin was linked to a water-soluble polymeric backbone (MAG-CPT) and administrated as a 30 min infusion over 3 consecutive days every 4 weeks to patients with malignant solid tumours. The objectives of our study were to determine the maximal tolerated dose, the dose-limiting toxicities, and the plasma and urine pharmacokinetics of MAG-CPT, and to document anti-tumour activity. The starting dose was 17 mg m−2 day−1. Sixteen patients received 39 courses at seven dose levels. Maximal tolerated dose was at 68 mg m−2 day−1 and dose-limiting toxicities consisted of cumulative bladder toxicity. MAG-CPT and free camptothecin were accumulated during days 1–3 and considerable amounts of MAG-CPT could still be retrieved in plasma and urine after 4–5 weeks. The half-lives of bound and free camptothecin were equal indicating that the kinetics of free camptothecin were release rate dependent. In summary, the pharmacokinetics of camptothecin were dramatically changed, showing controlled prolonged exposure of camptothecin. Haematological toxicity was relatively mild, but serious bladder toxicity was encountered which is typical for camptothecin and was found dose limiting

Berberine modulates expression of mdr1 gene product and the responses of digestive track cancer cells to Paclitaxel

Berberine is the major constituent of Coptis chinese and is commonly used in Chinese herbal medicine to treat patients with gastrointestinal disorders. In this study, using flow cytometry, we have found that a 24-h berberine treatment up-regulated the multidrug-resistant transporter (pgp-170) expression in two oral (KB, OC2), two gastric (SC-M1, NUGC-3) and two colon (COLO 205, CT 26) cancer cell lines. Decreased retention of rhodamine 123 was observed in berberine-treated cells as compared to vehicle control. To examine whether the berberine modulated pgp-170 expression in cancer cells is associated with changes in drug resistance, we determined the cytotoxicity, cell cycle progression and cell morphology of Paclitaxel-treated cells. Paclitaxel (1 nM–10 μM) treatment for 24 h induced cytotoxicity in OC2, SC-M1 and COLO 205 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Pretreatment of cells with 32 μM berberine for 24 h prior to Paclitaxel treatment resulted in increased viability as compared to that of Paclitaxel-treated cells. In addition, Paclitaxel-induced apoptosis and/or G2/M arrest in these three cancer cell lines. Pretreatment of cells with berberine prior to Paclitaxel blocked the Paclitaxel-induced cell cycle responses and morphological changes. These results together suggest that berberine modulated the expression and function of pgp-170 that leads to reduced response to Paclitaxel in digestive track cancer cells. © 1999 Cancer Research Campaig