Biomedical subjects

K Nishio

Publications and source records attributed to K Nishio.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

PubMed1993

Modulation of cisplatin sensitivity and accumulation by amphotericin B in cisplatin-resistant human lung cancer cell lines.

To ascertain whether resistance to cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cisplatin) could be overcome, we determined the effects of amphotericin B (AmB), an antifungal agent, on cisplatin cytotoxicity, cisplatin-induced DNA interstrand cross-links formation, and cellular accumulation of cisplatin in human lung cancer cell lines, PC-9, PC-14, PC-7, and H69 and their corresponding respective cisplatin-resistant sublines PC-9/CDDP, PC-14/CDDP, PC-7/CDDP, and H69/CDDP in vitro. In PC-9/CDDP but not PC-9 cells, augmentation of cytotoxicity was observed when a nontoxic concentration (10 micrograms/ml) of AmB was combined with cisplatin, cis-diammine(1,1-cyclobutanedicarboxylato)platinum(II), and cis-diammine(glycolato)platinum(II). Sensitizing effects of AmB of varying magnitudes on cisplatin cytotoxicity also were observed in all the other cell lines except PC-14. AmB-induced increases in cisplatin-induced interstrand cross-links formation were observed, the magnitudes of which corresponded to the magnitudes of AmB-augmented cisplatin cytotoxicity. Increased intracellular cisplatin accumulation was observed in the presence of AmB in all the cells that were sensitized to cisplatin by AmB. Therefore, the increases in cisplatin accumulation were considered to be responsible, at least in part, for the mechanism of the sensitizing effect. Further experiments using other human lung cancer cell lines showed that cells that were more resistant to cisplatin were more sensitized to cisplatin by AmB than cells that were cisplatin-sensitive.

Amphotericin B↗

PubMed1993

High-resolution transmission electron microscopy of hexagonal and rhombohedral molybdenum disulfide crystals.

Natural (molybdenite) and synthesized molybdenum disulfide crystals have been studied by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The image simulation demonstrates that the [0001] and [0110] HRTEM images of hexagonal and rhombohedral MoS2 crystals hardly disclose their stacking sequences, and that the [2110] images can distinguish the Mo and S columns along the incident electron beam and enable one to determine not only the crystal structure but also the fault structure. Observed [0001] images of cleaved molybdenite and synthesized MoS2 crystals, however, reveal the strain field around partial dislocations limiting an extended dislocation. A cross-sectional image of a single molecular (S-Mo-S) layer cleaved from molybdenite has been observed. Synthesized MoS2 flakes which were prepared by grinding have been found to be rhombohedral crystals containing many stacking faults caused by glides between S/S layers.

Crystallography↗

PubMed1993

Apoptosis of lung cancer cells caused by some anti-cancer agents (MMC, CPT-11, ADM) is inhibited by bcl-2.

To determine whether the apoptotic cell death induced by anti-cancer agents could be inhibited by bcl-2, we established a bcl-2-transfected human small cell lung cancer cell line, SBC-3/Bcl2. SBC-3/Bcl2 showed higher resistance to ADM, CPT-11 and MMC compared with the parental line SBC-3, with relative resistance values of 3.4, 7.6 and 5.7, respectively. However, there was no difference in sensitivity to CDDP, VP-16, ACNU, MTX and taxol between SBC-3 and SBC-3/Bcl2. Agarose gel electrophoresis showed typical DNA fragmentation of SBC-3 following treatment with CPT-11 or MMC, in a concentration-dependent manner. In contrast, the same concentration of the drugs did not induce DNA fragmentation in SBC-3/Bcl2. Treatment with CDDP resulted in the same degree of DNA fragmentation in SBC-3 and SBC-3/Bcl2. These studies indicate that bcl-2 can modulate the cytotoxicity of some anti-cancer agents by inhibiting the process of apoptosis.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Combination effect of vaccination with IL2 and IL4 cDNA transfected cells on the induction of a therapeutic immune response against Lewis lung carcinoma cells.

In order to develop a more effective method of immunotherapy we have transfected mouse interleukin-2 (IL2) or mouse interleukin-4 (IL4) cDNA into a spontaneous non-immunogenic murine lung cancer. Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC). IL2 cDNA transfection more strongly decreases tumorigenicity of LLC than IL4 cDNA transfection. Recombinant-human-IL2 treatment of mice that were transplanted with untransfected LLC could not prolong their survival. In contrast, vaccination with IL2-cDNA-transfected LLC (LLC-IL2) and LLC-IL2 mixed with IL4-cDNA-transfected LLC (LLC-IL4) could significantly suppress tumor growth of LLC in a tumor-specific manner. The vaccination with LLC-IL2 mixed with the same number of LLC-IL4 cells was more suppressive to the growth of LLC than that with LLC-IL2 cells alone, while LLC-IL4 vaccination alone was ineffective. Nude, severe-combined-immune-deficient (SCID) and beige mice were unable to reject LLC-IL2 cells. However, immunodeficient mice responded to LLC-IL2, but not to LLC, since their survival times after transplantation with LLC-IL2 cells were significantly longer than the survival time of normal or immunodeficient mice transplanted with untransfected LLC cells. We conclude that vaccination with IL2-producing tumors and, with more pronounced effect, in combination with IL4-producing tumors, is able to induce an immune response to this normally non-immunogenic tumor. Tumor rejection appears to be achieved by the combined activity of CTL and NK cells. This strategy has potential for new immunotherapeutic interventions in cancer patients.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Primary structure of two-chain botrocetin, a von Willebrand factor modulator purified from the venom of Bothrops jararaca.

The complete amino acid sequence and location of the disulfide bonds of two-chain botrocetin, which promotes platelet agglutination in the presence of von Willebrand factor, from venom of the snake Bothrops jararaca are presented. Sequences of the alpha and beta subunits were determined by analysis of peptides generated by digestion of the S-pyridylethylated protein with Achromobacter protease I or alpha-chymotrypsin and by chemical cleavage with cyanogen bromide or 2-(2'-nitrophenylsulfenyl)-3-methyl-3-bromoindolenine. Two-chain botrocetin is a heterodimer composed of the alpha subunit (consisting of 133 amino acid residues) and the beta subunit (consisting of 125 amino acid residues) held together by a disulfide bond. Seven disulfide bonds link half-cystine residues 2 to 13, 30 to 128, and 103 to 120 of the alpha subunit; 2 to 13, 30 to 121, and 98 to 113 of the beta subunit; and 80 of the alpha subunit to 75 of the beta subunit. In terms of amino acid sequence and disulfide bond location, two-chain botrocetin is homologous to echinoidin (a sea urchin lectin) and other C-type (Ca(2+)-dependent) lectins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1993

Interleukin-6 cDNA transfected Lewis lung carcinoma cells show unaltered net tumour growth rate but cause weight loss and shortened survival in syngeneic mice.

HuIL-6 cDNA, cloned into a neomycin resistant conferring expression vector, BMGNeo, was transfected into Lewis Lung Carcinoma (LLC) cells. LLC cells (5 x 10(6) ml-1) transfected with IL-6 cDNA (LLC-IL6) secreted IL-6 into the culture supernatant at a concentration of 9.9 ng ml-1 within 48 h. When 1,000,000 of untransfected LLC, BMGNeo vector transfected LLC (LLC-Neo) or LLC-IL6 cells were transplanted into C57BL/6 mice subcutaneously, the mean +/- s.d. of survival times of these mice were 33.3 +/- 9.7, 34.3 +/- 7.1 and 17.0 +/- 3.1 days, respectively. The survival time of LLC-IL6 cells transplanted mice was significantly shorter than that of LLC (P < 0.01) or LLC-Neo (P < 0.01) cells transplanted mice without a measurable difference of tumour size. Plasma concentration of IL-6 steadily increased in LLC-IL6 transplanted mice. Body weight and serum albumin were significantly lower in LLC-IL6 transplanted mice than in LLC transplanted mice. Mouse IL-1 alpha and mouse TNF-alpha were not detected in the plasma of LLC-IL6 transplanted mice. These data suggested that secretion of IL-6 from LLC cells was unable to alter net tumour growth rate but rather caused a state similar to cachexia without detectable increase of IL-1 alpha and TNF-alpha in the plasma. This state may be responsible for the shortened survival of LLC-IL6 tumour-bearing mice.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Characterisation of a vindesine-resistant human small-cell lung cancer cell line.

We established a vindesine-resistant (x 11.6) human small-cell lung cancer cell line (H69/VDS) by stepwise exposure of parent line H69 to vindesine. H69/VDS showed cross-resistance to taxol (x 10.1), vincristine (x 6.9) and colchicine (x 3.4) but not to doxorubicin, cisplatin or etoposide. There was no significant difference in intracellular [3H]-vincristine and doxorubicin accumulation between H69 and H69/VDS cells. The human mdr1 mRNA was not detected in either of the cell lines. These results indicated that H69/VDS did not express a typical multidrug resistant phenotype. Addition of 20 microM verapamil enhanced the growth inhibitory effect of vindesine on both H69/VDS (x 12.0) and H69 cells (x 3.8). The amount of total tubulin in H69/VDS cells was lower than that in the H69 parental cells. No significant increase was observed in the amount of total and polymerised tubulins of H69 cells. In H69/VDS cells, however, verapamil increased the amount of total tubulin to the level of parental cells, but decreased the amount of polymerised tubulin. Modulation of tubulin may play a role in the resistance to vindesine.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

PubMed1993

The mechanism of the difference in cellular uptake of platinum derivatives in non-small cell lung cancer cell line (PC-14) and its cisplatin-resistant subline (PC-14/CDDP).

A cisplatin-resistant non-small cell lung cancer cell line, PC-14/CDDP, was established from PC-14 by stepwise escalation of CDDP concentrations in vitro. PC-14/CDDP cells were 11.4-fold more resistant to CDDP compared with PC-14 cells. This resistant cell line was cross-resistant to platinum analogues, such as carboplatin (CBDCA) (x 3.5), cis-diammine(glycolate-O,O')platinum(II) (254-S) (x 5.6) and cis-dichloro(ethylenediammine)platinum(II) (cis-DEP) (x 4.2). On the other hand, relative resistance value to ormaplatin was only 1.4-fold. To elucidate the mechanism(s) of CDDP resistance and of its circumvention by ormaplatin, we investigated the characteristics of this cell line. Total sulfhydryl content was slightly elevated in PC-14/CDDP cells compared with PC-14 cells. There was no significant difference in the DNA repair ability between the two cell lines. Cellular accumulations of CDDP, CBDCA, 254-S, and cis-DEP in PC-14/CDDP cells were markedly decreased to 23%, 27%, 29%, and 32% of those in PC-14 cells, respectively. However, the accumulation of ormaplatin in PC-14/CDDP was almost the same as that in PC-14. To elucidate the mechanisms of uptake of these platinum analogs in the cells, we studied the effects of ouabain, an Na+,K(+)-ATPase inhibitor, on cellular drug uptake in both cell lines. Preincubation with 300 nM ouabain for 1 h inhibited approximately 60% of CDDP accumulation in PC-14. However ouabain preincubation at any concentration up to 300 nM did not affect CDDP accumulation in PC-14/CDDP. The accumulation of ormaplatin was not inhibited by ouabain in either of the cell lines. These data suggest that the mechanism of the uptake of ormaplatin is different from that of CDDP, and that ormaplatin exerts a cytotoxic effect in CDDP-resistant cells which have defective cisplatin accumulation.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

PubMed1993

Novel water-soluble derivatives of docosahexaenoic acid increase diacylglycerol production mediated by phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C.

The effect of ascorbic acid 6-docosahexaenoate (DHA-VC) on the phospholipase-C-mediated hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine was investigated. In human non-small cell lung cancer cells (PC-14) exposed to DHA-VC for 24 hr, a dose-dependent increase in phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) activity was seen. PC-PLC activity in whole-cell homogenate of PC-14 cells was increased about 2.5-fold by 2 hr of treatment with DHA-VC (20 micrograms/ml). Treatment with DHA-VC also augmented PC-PLC activity in the crude membrane extract. On the other hand, DHA-VC inhibited the activity of phospholipase A2 (ID50 = 800 micrograms/ml). Another water-soluble analog, choline docosahexaenoate, also stimulated PC-PLC activity. To explore the effect of DHA-VC on phosphatidylcholine turnover, we analyzed phospholipids labeled with [14C] choline or [3H]myristate by thin-layer chromatography, and found that the amount of [14C]- and [3H]-labeled phosphatidylcholine was constant in the presence of DHA-VC. These results suggest that phosphatidylcholine turnover was not influenced by DHA-VC. DHA-VC treatment increased protein kinase C activity of the cells in the late phase (120 min), suggesting that DHA-VC-induced diacylglycerol production mediated by PC-PLC causes protein kinase C activation. Considering that significant inhibition of DNA synthesis occurred 12 hr after 2 hr of treatment with DHA-VC (20 micrograms/ml), DHA-VC-induced PC-PLC activation seems to be an early event in DHA-VC-induced cytotoxicity, which suggests that the effects of DHA-VC on signal transduction pathways may play an important role in the cytotoxicity of DHA-VC.

Ascorbic Acid↗

PubMed1993

Pharmacokinetic re-evaluation and phase I study of high dose epirubicin in advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

We performed a phase I trial to evaluate the toxicity and the maximum tolerated dose of high dose epirubicin on a three-consecutive-day schedule on Japanese patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Fourteen patients were entered in the study. At least three patients were assigned to each different dose level. Epirubicin was given intravenously daily for three day by bolus injection. The dose was started at 60 mg/m2/course and escalated by 30 mg/m2/course. Granulocytopenia was found to be the dose limiting toxicity with a maximum tolerated dose of 150 mg/m2/course. Thrombocytopenia and non-hematological toxicities were mild and well tolerated. The maximum tolerated dose was lower than that in Europe and Canada. Partial responses were observed in two out of five patients on 150 mg/m2/course. The recommended phase II dose for high dose epirubicin was demonstrated to be 120 mg/m2/course. A further dose-escalating study of epirubicin in conjunction with the administration of granulocyte colony stimulating factor is scheduled for the determination of its antitumor activity in non-small cell lung cancer.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

[Tetralogy of Fallot with aortopulmonary window: report of a successful repair].

Tetralogy of Fallot is rarely associated with aortopulmonary window. A 6-month-old boy with tetralogy of Fallot, aortopulmonary window, pulmonary atresia, patent left superior vena cava and right aortic arch was operated successfully. Both great arteries were divided, the defect in the aortic wall was closed directly, and the defect in the pulmonary arterial wall was connected with a valved external conduit which was used for right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction. Although oliguria had been prolonged for 3 weeks post operatively, he recovered completely and RV/LV pressure ratio was less than 0.6 estimated by two-dimensional echocardiography at one month after operation.

Aortopulmonary Septal Defect↗

PubMed1992

Detection of topoisomerase I gene point mutation in CPT-11 resistant lung cancer cell line.

CPT-11, a recently developed topoisomerase I (Topo I) inhibitor, attracts the attention not only of basic researchers but also of clinicians because of its high antitumor activity. The CPT-11 resistant human lung cancer cell line, PC-7/CPT, showed 10-fold resistance compared to parental cell line, PC-7. The total activity of Topo I in the resistant cell line was one fourth that of the parental sensitive cell line. The Topo I from the resistant cells was also 5-fold more resistant to the inhibitory effect of CPT-11 than that of the parental cells. We speculated that the alteration of the Topo I gene may be responsible for the change in topoisomerase activity of the CPT-11 resistant cell line. Therefore, we analyzed the mutation of Topo I gene using the method of single strand conformation polymorphism of polymerase chain reaction and the reverse transcriptase. We divided Topo I cDNA into ten fragments which overlapped each other and covered whole coding sequences of the Topo I cDNA. We observed mobility shift of two fragments in the PC-7/CPT, suggesting the presence of some mutations in these fragments. We performed the direct-sequencing of these portions by the dideoxy chain termination method and observed an altered sequence having a G to A base change in PC-7/CPT. This base substitution results in replacement of the conserved threonine at 729 position with alanine. These results suggest that the point mutation of Topo I gene is related to the decreases of Topo I activity and the sensitivity to Topo I inhibitor in PC-7/CPT cells.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗

PubMed1992

Increased phosphorylation of nuclear phosphoproteins in human lung-cancer cells resistant to cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II).

A novel non-phorbol-ester-like tumor promoter, okadaic acid (OA) has been shown to be an inhibitor of protein phosphatase I and IIA and, thus, to cause an "apparent activation" of protein kinase C (PKC). We previously showed that cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (CDDP)-resistant cells, PC-9/CDDP, were cross-resistant to OA and that the cross-resistance was not due to the increased efflux of OA. We hypothesized that the phosphorylation status of some cellular proteins might be important in CDDP-resistance. No significant difference in PKC activity or total protein phosphatase activity measured in vitro was seen between PC-9 and PC-9/CDDP cells, nor in their sensitivity to inhibition by OA, nor in the amount of phosphorylation of whole cells or TCA-insoluble material. By SDS-PAGE after incubation of intact cells with 32P, we detected a marked increase, compared to PC-9 cells, in phosphorylation of the nuclear proteins of MW 32 and 20 kDa in CDDP-resistant PC-9/CDDP cells with no apparent difference in protein content. When phosphorylation of nuclear proteins observed in PC-9/CDDP cells was analyzed by 2-dimensional SDS-PAGE, the 32-kDa protein had a PI of about 4.5. The 32-kDa and 20-kDa bands were increased in a dose-dependent manner by CDDP treatment. On the other hand, no increase in phosphorylation of these proteins was observed in parental PC-9 cells. These results demonstrate a marked difference in the phosphorylation status of specific nuclear proteins between parental and CDDP-resistant cell lines, which may be related to CDDP-resistance.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1992

Determinants of response to the DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors doxorubicin and etoposide in human lung cancer cell lines.

BACKGROUND: Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is more sensitive to anticancer agents than non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but few studies have analyzed the mechanisms of natural drug resistance responsible for this difference. PURPOSE: To elucidate these mechanisms, we determined drug sensitivity and evaluated the biochemical parameters affecting response to the DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors doxorubicin and etoposide in both types of cancer cell lines, in particular the activity and content of DNA topoisomerase II, as well as etoposide uptake and cell doubling time. METHODS: Drug sensitivity and cellular uptake of etoposide were determined by clonogenic assay and accumulation of radiolabeled drug, respectively. The topoisomerase II activity was assayed by decatenation of kinetoplast DNA to minicircle DNA using nuclear protein, and the content was determined by immunoblot analysis of nuclear extracts. We also compared the topoisomerase II content in parent cell lines with that in lines with cisplatin resistance acquired in vitro. RESULTS: Sensitivities to doxorubicin and etoposide were higher in SCLC cell lines than in NSCLC lines, and the difference was statistically significant. Etoposide uptake in SCLC cells was higher than in NSCLC cells; the difference was statistically significant, but this difference may not be sufficient to account for the variation in sensitivities of the cell lines. Topoisomerase II activities of nuclear protein from SCLC cell lines were reproducibly twofold higher than those for NSCLC cell lines. The topoisomerase II content in nuclear protein appeared to be higher in SCLC cell lines than in NSCLC cell lines and corresponded to the sensitivities to doxorubicin and etoposide. In the cisplatin-resistant NSCLC cell lines PC-7/CDDP and PC-14/CDDP, the topoisomerase II content was increased compared with that in the parent lines, but the topoisomerase II content in other cisplatin-sensitive parent lines was similar to that in resistant sublines. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the topoisomerase II activity and content may be major factors in determining sensitivity to topoisomerase II inhibitors.

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung↗

PubMed1992

Mechanism of cross-resistance to a camptothecin analogue (CPT-11) in a human ovarian cancer cell line selected by cisplatin.

We established a cisplatin-resistant human ovarian cancer cell line (HAC2/0.1) from the parent cell line (HAC2/P) by continuous exposure of HAC2/P to 0.1 microgram of cisplatin/ml. Drug sensitivity determined by colony assay revealed that HAC2/0.1 was 2.4 times as resistant to cisplatin as the parental cell line. HAC2/0.1 was 12.1 and 2.0 times as resistant to (4s)-4,11-diethyl-4-hydroxy-9-[(4-piperidinopiperidino)-carbony loxy]dione hydrochloride trithydrate (CPT-11) and 7-ethyl-10-hydroxy-CPT (SN-38; an active metabolite of CPT-11), respectively, than HAC2/P. We studied the mechanism of cross-resistance to CPT-11 in HAC2/0.1. The glutathione (GSH) content was higher in HAC2/0.1 than in HAC2/P. The activity of DNA topoisomerase I and the accumulation of CPT-11 and SN-38 were also the same. On the other hand, the conversion of CPT-11 to SN-38 in HAC2/0.1 was about 3-fold less than in HAC2/P. Treatment of the parent and resistant cell lines with buthionine sulfoxamine (BSO) decreased the GSH content of both cell lines and decreased the 50% inhibitory concentrations of all the tested drugs for HAC2/0.1. The accumulation of CPT-11 in HAC2/0.1 but not in HAC2/P was increased by BSO treatment. On the other hand, in HAC2/P the 50% inhibitory concentrations of SN-38 and CPT-11 were not influenced by BSO treatment. The 50% inhibitory concentration of CPT-11 for HAC2/0.1 was not reduced by BSO treatment to the level for HAC2/P, even though the GSH content had been reduced more than in HAC2/P. These results show that there is no clear relationship between GSH and resistance to CPT-11. The decreased conversion of CPT-11 to SN-38 is considered to be the main cause of resistance to CPT-11 in this cell line.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

PubMed1992

Phylogenetic relationships of the genera Arthroderma and Nannizzia inferred from mitochondrial DNA analysis.

The phylogenetic relationship of the genera Arthroderma and Nannizzia, was investigated by mitochondrial DNA analysis based on the restriction-fragment-length polymorphisms. Phylogenetic trees made on ten species. A. benhamiae, A. insingulare, A. quadrifidum, A. simii, A. vanbreuseghemii, N. fulva, N. grubyia, N. gypsea, N. incurvata and N. otae showed no definite distinctions between the genera Arthroderma and Nannizzia. These results support the conclusion of Weitzman et al. that the genera Arthroderma and Nannizzia are congeneric.

Ascomycota↗

PubMed1992

Phylogeny of the genera Trichophyton using mitochondrial DNA analysis.

Diversity of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was investigated in 92 Trichophyton rubrum strains, 2 T. mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes, 2 T. m. var. interdigitale, 2 T. m. var. goetzii, 1 T. m. var. erinacei, 2 T. quinckeanum, 2 T. schoenleinii, 1 T. tonsurans, 2 T. verrucosum var. album, 2 T. v. var. discoides, 1 T. violaceum var. violaceum, 1 Arthroderma benhamiae, and 1 A. vanbreuseghemii using endonucleases, Hae III, Msp I, Hind III, Xba I, and Bgl II. Trichophyton species were divided into 7 groups, and a phylogenetic tree was produced based on sequence divergence within mtDNA. The following results were obtained: (1) T. rubrum was divided into 2 groups Type I and Type II, and was suggested to be a complex. (2) A. benhamiae was closely related to T. m. var. erinacei. (3) T. rubrum Type II, T. tonsurans, and A. vanbreuseghemii showed identical restriction profiles, and were suggested to be closely related to each other or identical. (4) T. quinckeanum and T. schoenlenii showed identical restriction profiles, which differed slightly from those of A. vanbreuseghemii. (5) mtDNA analysis was useful in identifying pleomorphic strains.

DNA, Fungal↗

PubMed1992

In vitro enhancement of fluoropyrimidine-induced cytotoxicity by leucovorin in colorectal and gastric carcinoma cell lines but not in non-small-cell lung carcinoma cell lines.

Leucovorin (LV) increases the cytotoxic effect of fluorouracil (FUra) and 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (FdUrd) by enhancing the formation of the fluorodeoxyuridine monophosphate (FdUMP) thymidylate synthase (TS) 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate (mTHF) ternary complex. To study the difference in the efficacy of this combination against different tumors, we compared the effect of LV (20 microM) on the cytotoxicity of FUra, FdUrd, and 5-fluorouridine (FUrd) in vitro against cell lines of five colorectal carcinomas (CC), five gastric carcinomas (GC), and four non-small-cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC) using the colony-forming assay. At the concentration used in the experiments, LV alone failed to inhibit colony formation in any of the cell lines tested. The NSCLC cell lines were more resistant to FdUrd than were the CC and GC lines. LV modulated the cytotoxicity of FdUrd in all five CC lines and in three of the five GC lines but failed to do so in any of the NSCLC lines. In addition, following 20 h treatment with 1 microM [3H]-FdUrd, formation of the FdUMP/TS/mTHF ternary complex was enhanced by LV in the LV-sensitized CC and GC cell lines but not in the LV-refractory NSCLC lines. These in vitro data corresponded well to the results of clinical trials. Therefore, the colony-forming assay may be useful for the identification of the sensitivity of tumors according to phenotype.

Adenocarcinoma↗