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Biomedical subjects

M F Poupon

Publications and source records attributed to M F Poupon.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Antitumoral effects of squamocin on parental and multidrug resistant MCF7 (human breast adenocarcinoma) cell lines.

The antiproliferative effects of squamocin, one of the easiest annonaceous acetogenins to obtain, were studied in the parental (MCF7-S) and the multidrug resistant (MCF7-R) human breast adenocarcinoma cell lines. Squamocin inhibited proliferation of both cell lines identically, by blocking the cell cycle in the G1-phase. This inhibition was reversible in the long term. Squamocin decreased the ATP pool in both MCF7 cell lines, but did not seem to induce apoptosis. Cytotoxic activity of adriamycin was not restored in MCF7-R Pgp expressing cells by squamocin addition.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Superior in vivo experimental antitumour activity of vinflunine, relative to vinorelbine, in a panel of human tumour xenografts.

The antitumour activity of vinflunine, 20',20'-dichloro-3',4'-dihydrovinorelbine, a fluorinated Vinca alkaloid obtained by reaction in superacid media, was evaluated in comparison with vinorelbine against a series of subcutaneously-implanted human tumour xenografts. The tumours studied were established from bladder (BXF1299), pancreas (PAXF546), kidney (RXF944LX), colon (DLD-1, HT-29, TC37), central nervous system (SF-295), small cell lung (NCI-H69) and prostate (PC-3). Vinflunine or vinorelbine was administered as four weekly intraperitoneal treatments, within dose ranges of 5-80 or 0.63-10 mg/kg/injection, respectively. The overall antitumour activity of vinflunine was superior to that of vinorelbine. Vinflunine showed high activity against RXF944LX and NCI-H69 xenografts and moderate activity against PAXF546, PC-3 and TC37 tumours, achieving an overall response of 64%. This contrasts with a 27% response with vinorelbine, which proved only moderately active against RXF944LX and TC37 xenografts. These results confirm and extend our previous report of the broad spectrum of in vivo antitumour activity of vinflunine and reinforce its potential as a valuable addition to current chemotherapeutic agents.

Animals↗

Quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization in lung cancer as a diagnostic marker.

The diagnosis of lung cancer is quite often hampered by the existence of various cell types within samples such as biopsies or pleural effusions. We have established a new marker for image cytometry of interphase tumor cells of the lung by using the most recurrent and early cytogenetic event in lung cancer, the loss of the short arm of chromosome 3. The method is based on the detection of the imbalance between the long and the short arms of chromosome 3 by performing two-color fluorescence in situ hybridization on both arms. Fourteen tumors were analyzed after short-term culture and compared with the corresponding cytogenetic data obtained from metaphase analysis. Results on interphase nuclei and control experiments on metaphases were the same, with imbalance ratios ranging from 1.0 to 2.0 (mean value 1.6, median 1.5). To assess the clinical significance of this approach, three pleural effusions were analyzed. Data showed that normal cells within the sample could have been distinguished from the tumor cells based on different imbalance values between the long and the short arms. Thus, our method allows refined detection of lung tumor cells within samples containing heterogeneous cell populations.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

[Value of human colonic cancer models by surgical cecal implantation in nude mice].

A better understanding of the nature and treatment of colon cancer, and of by metastatic dissemination should be achieved by the use and study of appropriate animal models. Such models can be created by grafting human cancer cells or tumour fragments orthotopically into the colon or caecum of nude mice. This review examines the rationale behind these models and the principal results of orthotopic transplantation. Despite the fact that they require surgical expertise and are time-consuming, they provide valuable information on the mechanism of metastasis and the efficacy of novel treatments.

Animals↗

Light-induced photoactivation of hypericin affects the energy metabolism of human glioma cells by inhibiting hexokinase bound to mitochondria.

Glucose-dependent energy required for glioma metabolism depends on hexokinase, which is mainly bound to mitochondria. A decrease in intracellular pH leads to a release of hexokinase-binding, which in turn decreases glucose phosphorylation, ATP content, and cell proliferation. Thus, intracellular pH might be a target for therapy of gliomas, and a search for agents able to modulate intracellular pH was initiated. Hypericin, a natural photosensitizer, displays numerous biological activities when exposed to light. Its mechanism and site of action at the cellular level remain unclear, but it probably acts by a type II oxygen-dependent photosensitization mechanism producing singlet oxygen. Hypericin is also able to induce a photogenerated intracellular pH drop, which could constitute an alternative mechanism of hypericin action. In human glioma cells treated for 1 h with 2.5 microg/ml hypericin, light exposure induced a fall in intracellular pH. In these conditions, mitochondria-bound hexokinase was inhibited in a light- and dose-dependent manner, associated with a decreased ATP content, a decrease of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, and a depletion of intracellular glutathione. Hexokinase protein was effectively released from mitochondria, as measured by an ELISA using a specific anti-hexokinase antibody. In addition to decreased glutathione, a response to oxidative stress was confirmed by the concomitant increase in mRNA expression of gamma-glutamyl cysteine synthetase, which catalyzes the rate-limiting step in overall glutathione biosynthesis, and is subject to feedback regulation by glutathione. Hypericin also induced a dose- and light-dependent inhibition of [3H]thymidine uptake and induced apoptosis, as demonstrated by annexin V-FITC binding and cell morphology. This study confirmed the mitochondria as a primary target of photodynamic action. The multifaceted action of hypericin involves the alteration of mitochondria-bound hexokinase, initiating a cascade of events that converge to alter the energy metabolism of glioma cells and their survival. In view of the complex mechanism of action of hypericin, further exploration is warranted in a perspective of its clinical application as a potential phototoxic agent in the treatment of glioma tumors.

Anthracenes↗

Potentiation of lonidamine and diazepam, two agents acting on mitochondria, in human glioblastoma treatment.

BACKGROUND: Cellular metabolism in glioblastoma multiforme, the most common primary brain tumor in humans, is characterized by a high rate of aerobic glycolysis that is dependent on mitochondria-bound hexokinase. Moreover, high levels of glucose utilization and tumor aggressiveness in glioblastoma are associated with a high density of mitochondrial benzodiazepine receptors. We sought to inhibit glioblastoma metabolism by simultaneously inhibiting hexokinase with lonidamine and binding benzodiazepine receptors with diazepam. METHODS: Cellular glioblastoma metabolism in five glioblastoma cell lines was assessed in vitro by measuring cell proliferation (by use of a tetrazolium-based colorimetric assay, measurement of DNA synthesis, and assessment of cell cycle distribution), by measuring membrane fluidity (by fluorescence polarization measurement of cells stained with a fluorescent probe), and by measuring changes in intracellular pH. Immunodeficient nude mice bearing subcutaneous xenografts of human glioblastoma cells were used to assess the antitumor activities of lonidamine and diazepam; the mice were treated twice daily with lonidamine (total daily dose of 160 mg/kg body weight) and/or diazepam (total daily dose of 1 mg/kg body weight) for 10 consecutive days. RESULTS: When used in combination, the two drugs had a stronger effect on glioblastoma cell proliferation and metabolism in vitro than did either agent used alone. In vivo, the combination of lonidamine and diazepam was significantly more effective in reducing glioblastoma tumor growth than either drug alone (two-sided P<.01, Mann-Whitney U test, comparing growth of treated tumors with that of untreated tumors); this tumor growth retardation was maintained as long as treatment was given. CONCLUSION: The combination of lonidamine and diazepam--drugs that target two distinct mitochondrial sites involved in cellular energy metabolism--potentiates the effects of the individual drugs and may prove useful in the treatment of human glioblastomas.

Animals↗

S9788 modulation of P-glycoprotein- and Multidrug-related protein-mediated multidrug resistance by Servier 9788 in doxorubicin-resistant MCF7 cells.

Inherent or acquired resistance to multiple natural drugs, termed multidrug resistance (MDR), represents a major obstacle to chemotherapy. Expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in MCF7mdr and MCF7R resistant cells was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis. MCF7R, but not the MDR1 gene-transfected MCF7mdr cells, expressed multidrug-related protein (MRP) concomitantly. Efficacy of an MDR modulator, designated as Servier 9788 (S9788), was estimated by doxorubicin (Dox) sensitization, Dox incorporation, and functional rhodamine 123 assay on MCF7 cell lines. Results showed that S9788 modulates the P-gp-associated MDR of MCF7mdr cells as well as the Multidrug-related protein-associated MDR of MCF7R cells.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Multidrug resistance genes (MRP) and MDR1 expression in small cell lung cancer xenografts: relationship with response to chemotherapy.

Intrinsic or acquired drug resistance is a major limiting factor of the effectiveness of chemotherapy. Increased expression of either the MRP gene or the MDR1 gene has been demonstrated to confer drug resistance in vitro. In this study, we examined MRP and MDR1 gene expression in a panel of 17 small cell lung cancers (SCLC) xenografted into nude mice from treated and untreated patients using an RT-PCR technique. For some of them, the outcome of the corresponding patients was known and we related MDR1/MRP expression with the xenograft response to C'CAV (cyclophosphamide, cisplatin, adriamycin and etoposide) combined chemotherapy. Fifteen (88%) of the 17 cases of SCLC were found to be positive for either MDR1 or MRP. MRP gene expression was present in 12 (71%) of 17 cases, whereas MDR1 gene expression was detected in eight (50%) of 16 cases. For six SCLC, the survival duration of patients differed, with three patients surviving for more than 30 months after therapy. Among these six turnours, five expressed MRP and/or MDR1. These six xenografts responded to the C'CAV treatment but a significant rate of cure was obtained in only three cases. No obvious relationship was observed between the response to this treatment and MRP or MDR1 expression. However, the remarkably high levels and frequency of MRP expression in some SCLC samples indicate that future developments in chemotherapy of this tumour type should anticipate that drugs which are substrates of MRP may be of limited effectiveness.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Mutations in OGG1, a gene involved in the repair of oxidative DNA damage, are found in human lung and kidney tumours.

The human OGG1 gene encodes a DNA glycosylase activity catalysing the excision of the mutagenic lesion 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine from oxidatively damaged DNA. The OGG1 gene was localized to chromosome 3p25, a region showing frequent loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in lung and kidney tumours. In this study, we have analysed by RT-PCR the expression of OGG1 in 25 small cell lung cancers, in 15 kidney carcinomas and the 15 normal kidney counterparts. The results show that OGG1 messenger RNA can be detected in all tumours tested and that no significant difference was observed in the level of expression between normal and tumoral kidney tissues. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) was used to screen this series of human tumours for alterations in the OGG1 cDNA. The study revealed homozygous mutations in three tumours, two from lung and one from kidney. Sequencing analysis of the mutants identified a single base substitution in each of the three cases: two transversions (GC to TA and TA to AT) and one transition (GC to AT). All three substitutions cause an amino acid change in the hOgg1 protein. For the mutant kidney tumour, the normal tissue counterpart shows a wild-type profile. These results suggest a role for OGG1 mutations in the course of the multistage process of carcinogenesis in lung or kidney.

Carcinoma, Small Cell↗

Synthesis of self-immolative glucuronide-based prodrugs of a phenol mustard.

The design and synthesis of the mustard pro-prodrugs which can be used in ADEPT is reported. Prodrugs 1 and 2 include a glucuronide group which is connected to the drug via an aromatic and/or aliphatic bis-carbamate spacer. The design of these new prodrugs takes advantage of a spontaneous 1,6-elimination and/or an intramolecular cyclization reaction after enzymatic cleavage. Thus, enzymatic-catalyzed hydrolysis of the glucuronyl moiety of 1 by Escherichia coli beta-glucuronidase results in the liberation of the parent mustard drug 20 with formation of CO2, 2-nitro-4-hydroxymethylphenol 19 and dimethylimidazolidinone 21. Surprisingly, prodrug 2 was not cleaved under the same conditions. According to in vitro experiments, prodrugs 1 and 2 were approximately 50- and 80-fold less cytotoxic than the parent drug and, when treated with beta-glucuronidase, the level of cytotoxic activity of 1 became comparable to that of the drug. Stability of 1 in phosphate buffer was satisfactory. These results demonstrate that 1 is a prodrug that can be specifically activated to release the cytotoxic agent.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

[Targeting the gene of glucose metabolism for the treatment of advanced gliomas].

Loss of chromosomes is a recurrent event in cancer. Chromosome-10 losses occur with tumor progression and characterize advanced gliomas. This chromosome carries many genes involved in glucose metabolism. Hexokinase (HK) gene is located on chromosome-10. Hexokinase enzymatic activity is decreased in glioblastomas. Hexokinase enables glucose entry into glycolysis and is critical for these highly glycolytic tumors. These enzyme is either free in the cytosol or bound to the mitochondrial outer membrane. Disturbance of HK binding to mitochondria by lonidamine led to inhibition of cells and xenografted-glioma growth. Hexokinase bind to a mitochondrial porin which involved peripheral benzodiazepine receptors. Inhibition of HK and peripheral benzodiazepine receptors by lonidamine and diazepam led to synergistic antitumoral activity in xenografted gliomas. Co-inhibition of these two receptors will lead to a decrease in glycolysis, often elevated in these tumors, without modifying energetic metabolism of normal cells.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Distinct patterns of all-trans retinoic acid dependent expression of HOXB and HOXC homeogenes in human embryonal and small-cell lung carcinoma cell lines.

The expression patterns of the class I homeogenes HOXB and HOXC clusters in the presence of retinoic acid (RA) were studied in two human small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell lines and compared to that of NT2/D1 embryonal carcinoma cells. Contrasting with the sequential 3'-5' induction of the HOX genes observed after RA treatment of embryonic NT2/D1 cells, in the SCLC cells the responding genes (induced or down-regulated) were interspersed with insensitive genes (expressed or unexpressed), while no genomic alteration affected the corresponding clusters. These findings imply that HOX gene regulatory mechanisms are altered in non-embryonic SCLC cells, perhaps reflecting their ability to respond to more diversified stimuli, in relation with their origin from adult tissues.

Carcinoma, Small Cell↗

Two- and three-dimensional cell structures govern epidermal growth factor survival function in human bladder carcinoma cell lines.

Human bladder carcinomas often express high levels of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor. In three human bladder carcinoma cell lines (OBR, T24, and 647V), we show that two EGF receptor ligands, namely EGF and transforming growth factor alpha, enhanced the apoptosis due to serum starvation on cells cultured as monolayers. Conversely, EGF and transforming growth factor alpha prevented apoptosis when the same serum-starved cells were cultured as three-dimensional spheroids. Both stimulation and inhibition of apoptosis by EGF were associated with p21 WAF1/CIP1 overexpression. In 647V spheroids, EGF protection against radiation-induced apoptosis was negated by genistein and tyrphostin AG1478, suggesting that blockade of the EGF signal transduction in patients with bladder cancer may improve the radiotherapy efficacy.

Apoptosis↗

Methionine deprivation and methionine analogs inhibit cell proliferation and growth of human xenografted gliomas.

Growth of numerous malignant tumors depends on an exogenous methionine (MET) supply, while endogenously synthesized MET supports normal cell proliferation. Because an antitumor effect should be obtained by aggravating the altered MET metabolism in gliomas, MET dependency of human xenografted gliomas was evaluated and a therapeutic approach using MET deprivation or MET analogs to induce MET starvation was applied. In vitro proliferation inhibition of glioma cell lines by MET deprivation and two MET analogs, ethionine (ETH) and trifluoromethylhomocysteine (TFH), was measured. Proliferation of 7 human glioma cell lines tested was inhibited in MET-free medium, and was poorly or not reversed by homocysteine (HCY). ETH or TFH (concentration range: 0.005-2 mg/ml) inhibited proliferation of all cell lines tested. MET analog-induced inhibition was abolished by MET and enhanced by HCY. Cell-cycle alterations due to MET deprivation were optimally assessed after 30 h of culture and bromodeoxyuridine incorporation. In MET- medium, cells were arrested in the G1-phase. ETH induced a dramatic accumulation of cells in the G2-phase. ATP contents were reduced by MET analogs only in HCY+ medium, suggesting complementary effects of MET analogs and HCY. Human glioma bearing nude mice were fed an amino acid-substituted MET- HCY-supplemented diet (MET-HCY+) and/or treated with MET analogs, injected intraperitoneally daily. Using two human xenografted tumors derived from gliomas, antitumor effects were obtained by subjecting tumor-bearing nude mice to MET starvation. TG-1-MA was more sensitive to MET depletion (40% of growth inhibition, P < 0.10) than TG-8-OZ (no growth inhibition). Antitumor effects of a MET-HCY+ diet and 200 mg/kg of ETH were potentiated when co-administered to glioma-bearing mice (77% GI, P < 0.025 and 67%, P < 0.0057 to TG-1-MA and TG-8-OZ respectively). A dose-response effect with no toxicity was obtained when the ETH dose was increased 10 fold. Potentiation of the effects of ETH and a MET-free diet indicates that they probably act on the same pathway but not the same target. In conclusion, experimentally induced MET deprivation and MET-analog treatment retarded the growth of human gliomas. Combination of MET-analog therapy with MET substitution by HCY enhanced their respective effects.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Growth of methionine-dependent human prostate cancer (PC-3) is inhibited by ethionine combined with methionine starvation.

Methionine (MET) is required for cell metabolism. MET endogenously synthesized from homocysteine (HCY) supports the proliferation of normal cells, but not that of numerous malignant cells, as shown previously. MET starvation should have an anti-tumour effect, and its deleterious effects on the hosts might be prevented by HCY. Anti-tumour effects of MET starvation must be reinforced by ethionine (ETH), a MET analogue. MET dependency of PC-3, a human prostate cancer cell line, was studied in vitro. Proliferation of PC-3 cells, cultivated in MET-free medium, was 29% compared with growth in MET+HCY- medium. Addition of HCY to MET-free medium increased the proliferation rate to 56%. The concentration of ETH required to decrease the PC-3 cell proliferation rate to 50% (IC50) was 0.5 mg ml(-1) in MET-HCY- medium. ETH-induced inhibition was abolished by MET addition and was reinforced by HCY. PC-3 cell cycle was blocked in the S-G2-phase after 30 h culture in the absence of MET; this blockage was not reversed by addition of HCY. ETH at the IC50 in MET-HCY+ medium blocked DNA replication. Apoptotic cells appeared after 30 h incubation in MET-HCY+ medium only when ETH was added. ATP pools were decreased after 15 h of culture in MET-free medium. In vivo, MET starvation was obtained by feeding tumour-bearing mice a diet containing a synthetic amino acid mixture as the protein supply, in which HCY replaced MET. Given to nude mice bearing xenografted PC-3, from day 1 after grafting and for 3 weeks, this diet inhibited tumour growth (34% on day 20, P < 0.007); this effect was potentiated by ETH (200 mg kg(-1) day(-1) i.p.) (56% on day 20, P < 5 x 10(-5)). The differences between the effects of these two treatments were significant (P < 0.017) and optimal on day 20. These data showed that combination of ETH and HCY slowed the proliferation of prostate cancer cells in vitro and in vivo, decreased ATP synthesis and caused cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Experimental therapy based on cancer cell MET metabolism deficiency could be efficient for treating advanced prostate cancers refractory to current therapies.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Different p53 mutations produce distinct effects on the ability of colon carcinoma cells to become blocked at the G1/S boundary after irradiation.

The LoVo colon carcinoma cell line that presents two wild type p53 alleles was used as the recipient for a series of transfections with p53 expression vectors coding for wild-type or three different mutants (143ala, 175his or 273his). The parental cell line as well as all clones that had rearranged the plasmid with consequent loss of p53 c-DNA were readily blocked at the G1/S boundary following 10 Gy of irradiation. For each mutation two clones with different levels of mutant protein expression were selected. Confirmation of the integration of the exogenous sequence was obtained by the expression of the mutant m-RNA, established by reverse transcription and DGGE or Southern blot. Flow cytometric measurements of 5-bromodeoxyuridine incorporation revealed a total G1/S block of the 143ala transfectants, similarly to the parental and control transfectant cells, but little or no cell cycle block for the 175his and 273his clones. Although it has been shown in vitro that all three mutations interfere with transcriptional activation by the wild-type protein, not only did we observe p53 protein induction and nuclear accumulation following irradiation, but WAF-1/CIP-1 m-RNA was increased in some of the clones for which the G1/S block was abolished. Our results show that mutant p53 proteins are to some extent submitted to the control of the cellular environment in cancer cells with wild type p53 alleles, but with an efficacy that depends on the mutation.

Alanine↗

Relationship between DNA methylation and gene expression of the HOXB gene cluster in small cell lung cancers.

The expression pattern of the HOXB gene cluster in four xenografted small-cell lung cancers was compared to the methylation of the DNA in the corresponding genomic regions. In 90% (17/19) of the studied cases, the expressed genes were in methylated regions whereas 70% (12/17) of the unexpressed genes were in unmethylated regions. This specific behavior could correspond to a particular gene expression regulation mechanism of the HOX gene network. Since some genes (HOXB2, HOXB4, HOXB7) were always inactive when unmethylated, this unexpected relationship might indicate their key function(s) in the HOX gene network.

Animals↗