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Biomedical subjects

T C Chou

Publications and source records attributed to T C Chou.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Comparison of cilazapril and nifedipine retard on ambulatory blood pressure, metabolic, rheological and platelet function in hypertensive patients.

In a 12 week randomised, double-blind study, a total of 31 patients with a sitting DBP of between 95 and 115 mmHg were enrolled for comparison of the antihypertensive, metabolic and antiplatelet effects of the drugs cilazapril and nifedipine retard. A two week placebo treatment was given before either cilazapril (2.5 mg daily) or nifedipine retard (20 mg twice daily) was administered. After four weeks treatment, those patients with a sitting DBP > 90 mmHg were given a doubling of their initial doses for the next six weeks; the others were maintained at their initial doses. All patients received their drugs and reported any adverse effects every other week. Blood was taken for metabolic, rheological and platelet function tests. Ambulatory BP and heart rate were recorded at the start, fourth and tenth weeks of study. At the end of this trial, there was a significant decrease in both SBP and DBP in the cilazapril group (155 +/- 14 to 142 +/- 12 mmHg systolic, P < 0.01; 106 +/- 6 to 95 +/- 5 mmHg diastolic, P < 0.01). In the nifedipine group, there was also a significant decrease in SBP and DBP (161 +/- 18 to 139 +/- 5 mmHg, systolic, P < 0.01; 101 +/- 6 to 88 +/- 9 mmHg diastolic, P < 0.05) but with a significant increase in heart rate (79 +/- 14 to 91 +/- 10 beats/minute, P < 0.05). There were no significant changes in the biochemical or metabolic parameters in the two groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Blood Platelets↗

Design of antineoplastic agents on the basis of the "2-phenylnaphthalene-type" structural pattern. 2. Synthesis and biological activity studies of benzo]b]naphtho[2,3-d]furan-6,11-dione derivatives.

Based on the "2-phenylnaphthalene-type" structural pattern hypothesis developed in our laboratory, a number of benzo[b]naphtho[2,3-d]furan-6,11-diones were designed, synthesized, and evaluated in vitro for their inhibitory action against the growth of human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60), small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), SCLC cells resistant to cisplatin (SCLC/CDDP), National Cancer Institute's disease-oriented primary antitumor 60 cell-line panel, and drug-stimulated topoisomerase II-mediated DNA cleavages. Many compounds designed were found to possess potent activity in one or more of the biological tests. In general, activity found in one of the cell lines tested is often echoed in other cell lines and many also expressed substantial inhibitory activity against topoisomerase II-mediated cleavage activities. One of these compounds, 3-[2-(dimethylamino)ethoxy]-1-hydroxybenzo[b]naphthol[2,3-d]furan- 6,11-dione (8j), exhibited strong inhibitory activity throughout the entire series of test panel. Thus, it appears that the proposed structural pattern hypothesis has received substantial support through experimental verification.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Characteristics of the combination paclitaxel plus doxorubicin in breast cancer cell lines analyzed with the ATP-cell viability assay.

Preliminary clinical data show promising activity regarding the combination of paclitaxel (Taxol) (TAX) and doxorubicin (Adriamycin) (ADR) in the treatment of breast cancer. This combination needs both further preclinical and clinical investigations to better understand the drug interaction, and to optimize the dose and schedule of these drugs. This study was done to evaluate the combination effect of TAX and ADR in three human breast cancer cell lines. The ATP-Cell-Viability Assay was used to evaluate the chemosensitivity profiles and to obtain dose response curves. For quantitation of synergism and antagonism the median-effect principle was applied and the corresponding combination index values were calculated. Drug synergism/antagonism was shown to be dose-related; synergism was enhanced at higher fractions affected. From this preclinical data, we have concluded that TAX-ADR is highly effective and partly synergistic in vitro. In spite of severe initial toxicities in early clinical trials in metastatic breast cancer patients, further clinical studies appear to be justified in order to define a tolerable dosage.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Quantitation of the synergistic interaction of edatrexate and cisplatin in vitro.

Cytotoxicity studies combining edatrexate (EDX) and cisplatin (Cis-Pt) were carried out in HL-60 cells in vitro as a retrospective analysis of the same combination in animal models and as a prospective study of this combination for future clinical trials. For purposes of comparison, parallel studies were carried out using methotrexate (MTX) and Cis-Pt. Dose-effect relationships were analyzed by the median-effect principle and the combination index-isobologram technique. EDX was the most cytotoxic agent of the three examined. The doses effective in 50% inhibition of the cell proliferation (ED50 values) for EDX, MTX, and Cis-Pt were 0.001, 0.0043, and 1.08 microM, respectively. Synergism occurred at effect levels corresponding to greater than 65% inhibition of cell growth by EDX + Cis-Pt, with an increase in synergism being observed at high doses. By contrast, MTX + Cis-Pt exhibited moderate synergism, with a decrease in synergism being noted at high doses. Preceding one drug by another for 4 h during the 48-h incubation period did not result in synergism greater than that produced by simultaneous exposure to both drugs for both pairs of combinations. Due to the synergism arising from these combinations, the ED90 values can be reduced by as many as 52 and 7.3 times for Cis-Pt and EDX, respectively, as compared with only 4.0 and 1.9 times for Cis-Pt and MTX, respectively. The calculation of these drug interactions was carried out automatically with the use of computer software and was also illustrated by a sample calculation performed without computer simulation.

Aminopterin↗

Schedule-dependent synergism of edatrexate and cisplatin in combination in the A549 lung-cancer cell line as assessed by median-effect analysis.

The methotrexate analog edatrexate has been shown to have greater antitumor activity and an improved therapeutic index as compared with its parent compound in preclinical systems. These studies suggest that edatrexate may have a broad role in the treatment of solid tumors. Information regarding edatrexate in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents is limited. We evaluated the interaction of edatrexate with cisplatin in vitro as assessed by median-effect analysis in the A549 human lung-cancer cell line. The effects of dose, exposure time, and schedule dependence were assessed. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using the tetrazolium-based colorimetric (MTT) assay. The inhibitory concentration producing 50% absorbance (IC50 for edatrexate with 1 h exposure was 1.4 microM. For all combination experiments, the edatrexate dose was fixed at 0.2 microM (IC10) whereas cisplatin (CDDP) concentrations were varied for 1-, 3-, and 24-h exposures either before or after edatrexate treatment. Drug interactions were assessed using the combination-index method as defined by median-effect analysis. A synergistic interaction was documented in experiments when edatrexate was applied prior to CDDP (combination index, < 1). The combination studies in which edatrexate was used prior to CDDP resulted in significant reduction of all three CDDP IC50 values: 1-h IC50, from 30.0 to 3.9 microM; 3-h IC50, from 21.3 to 1.4 microM; and 24-h IC50, from 1.7 to 0.03 microM. In contrast, synergism was not observed in experiments in which edatrexate treatment occurred after cisplatin exposure. Median-effect analysis is a useful method of determining drug interactions. In the present study, the combination of edatrexate and CDDP demonstrated schedule-dependent synergism, with the synergism being observed only in the setting of edatrexate treatment before CDDP exposure. Due to the potential broad spectrum of activity of edatrexate plus CDDP, further studies are warranted to determine the mechanism responsible for the synergism and to investigate this combination in a variety of tumor models.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Medical management of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a canine model comparing the in vivo efficacy of alpha-1 adrenergic antagonists in the prostate.

Medical management of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an alternative to surgical treatment of this disease. A major target for pharmacologic therapy is the alpha-1 adrenergic receptor, since activation of this receptor by endogenous catecholamines is thought to contribute to outlet obstruction. In the present study, we compared the potency of various alpha-1 adrenergic antagonists against epinephrine-induced contraction of the canine prostate. The drugs tested were dibenzyline, prazosin, terazosin and YM617. The rank order of potency, comparing inhibitory constants (Ki's), was found to be YM617 >> prazosin > terazosin > dibenzyline. This study is the first to compare all of these drugs directly in the prostate in vivo. The rank order of potency of the drugs is similar to the rank order of potency at other alpha-1 receptors. These results demonstrate that 1) our model is useful in confirming activity of drugs at the alpha-1 receptor and 2) the prostate alpha-1 receptor is similar to other alpha-1 receptors. Whether activity at the alpha-1 adrenergic receptor is a sufficient determinant of clinical efficacy of these drugs remains to be determined.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

A structure-activity relationship study of batracylin analogues.

A number of isoindolo[1,2-b]quinazolines and some benzo[4,5]isoquinolino[1,2-b]quinazolines as structural modification analogues of the antitumor compound batracylin were synthesized and evaluated against HL-60 cell growth and in topoisomerase II-mediated DNA cleavage assays. Of the compounds studied, 10,12-dihydro-7,8-methylenedioxyisoindolo[1,2-b]quinazolin-1 2(10H)-one (1d), 2-amino-10,12-dihydroisoindolo[1,2-b]quinazolin-12(10H)-one (1p), and 2-amino-7,8-methylenedioxy-10,12-dihydroisoindolo[1,2-b] quinazolin-12(10H)-one (1ab) exhibited good inhibitory activities against HL-60 cell lines as well as induction of topo II-mediated DNA cleavage activities.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

The synergistic interactions in vitro and in vivo of brequinar sodium with cyclosporine or rapamycin alone and in triple combination.

The rigorous median-effect analysis was used to assess the interactions between cyclosporine and drugs that inhibit nucleotide synthesis pathways. Using in vitro proliferation assays wherein human lymphocytes were triggered by phytohemagglutin, anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, or mixed lymphocyte reactions, CsA was shown to display additive interactions with 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP), mizorbine (MZB), and mycophenolic acid (MPA), and a synergistic interaction with brequinar (BQR). In the in vitro assays, BQR contributed a further synergistic effect to the double-drug combination CsA/rapamycin (RAPA). Of the four inhibitors of nucleotide synthesis pathways, only BQR noncompetitively inhibited IL-2-stimulated proliferation of the CTLL-2 cell line. Using the in vivo assay of heterotopic Buffalo (BUF, RT-1b) cardiac allografts in Wistar-Furth (WFu, RT-1u) hosts, oral administration of BQR displayed about 100% bioavailability--which, like the bolus intravenous (i.v.) mode, was eight-fold more effective than continuous i.v. infusions. Furthermore median-effect analysis of serial amounts of orally administered BQR demonstrated that it contributes synergistically to the immunosuppressive effects of intravenously delivered CsA/RAPA (0.5/0.01 mg/kg/day). The degree of synergism was proportionate to the extent of the immunosuppression. These findings document the potency of the CsA/RAPA/BQR triple-drug combination and suggest that the synergistic effects may permit dose reductions of each component, thereby mitigating toxicities resulting from the large amounts of individual agents necessary to achieve allo-unresponsiveness.

Antibodies↗

15 AU81, a prostacyclin analog, potentiates immunosuppression and mitigates renal injury due to cyclosporine.

15 AU81, a synthetic prostacyclin analog, inhibits human mixed lymphocyte culture responses in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations within a range [0.1 to 10.0 micrograms/ml] similar to that of cyclosporine, methylprednisolone, antilymphocyte serum, and prostaglandin E1 and E2 analogs. Using the median-effect analysis to dissect immunosuppressive interactions, 15 AU81 and cyclosporine were shown to produce synergistic effects on human peripheral blood lymphocyte activation upon phytohemagglutinin or anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody stimulation. In vivo, 15 AU81 potentiated the effect of cyclosporine to prolong the survival of rabbit renal allografts using concentrations of each agent that were individually ineffective. Furthermore, addition of 15 AU81 mitigated functional damage of rabbit kidneys due to high-dose cyclosporine therapy. These observations suggest that the addition of 15 AU81 may broaden the therapeutic window of cyclosporine by potentiating immunosuppression and mitigating nephrotoxic effects.

Animals↗

Immunosuppressive effects of defibrotide.

The effect of defibrotide (DF) alone or in combination with CsA was examined using in vitro proliferation assays with human PBLs and in vivo heterotopic heart allografts in rats. DF alone (12.5-50 mg/ml) inhibited in vitro PBL proliferation more effectively after PHA (50-56%) or OKT3 (50-95%), than after alloantigenic (25-30%), stimulation. Furthermore, the combination of DF (1-4 mg/ml) with CsA (10-40 ng/ml) caused an 85.2-86.8% reduction in proliferative responses after OKT3 stimulation. Median-effect analysis documented that the combination index for DF and CsA was consistently lower than 0.3 at various concentration ratios of the 2 agents. Combination index values below 1.0 reflect drug synergism; those equal to 1.0 show additive, and above 1.0, antagonistic, interactions. Daily intraperitoneal injections of DF (150 mg/kg) failed to prolong the survival of Buffalo (RT-1b) heart allografts in Wistar-Furth (RT-1u) recipients, namely mean survival times of 7.0 +/- 0.7 days with, vs. 6.5 +/- 0.5 days without, DF treatment. Similarly, intravenous or intra-arterial infusion of DF (280 mg/kg) delivered directly into the heart allograft by a 7-day osmotic pump was ineffective. However, a course of local, but not systemic, DF (280 mg/kg) combined with a 14-day i.v. administration of a subtherapeutic dose of CsA (1 mg/kg) significantly prolonged heart allograft survival to 22.8 +/- 5.0 days (P < 0.001). Thus, in vitro DF is immunosuppressive alone at high concentrations, and in combination with CsA at low concentrations. Continuous infusion of DF into the graft combined with systemic administration of CsA prolonged transplant survival in vivo. These findings suggest that high tissue levels of DF potentiate the immunosuppressive effects of CsA.

Animals↗

Synthesis of the acridone alkaloids glyfoline and congeners. Structure-activity relationship studies of cytotoxic acridones.

Glyfoline (4, 1,6-dihydroxy-10-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetramethoxyacridin-9-one) and its congeners were synthesized for evaluation of their cytotoxicity. A detailed structure-activity relationships (SAR) of these acridone derivatives were also studied. To study the SAR of glyfoline analogues, substituent(s) at C-1 and C-6 and at the heterocyclic nitrogen of glyfoline nucleus were modified. Nitro- and amino-substituted glyfoline analogues were also synthesized to study the effects of substituent(s) (electron-withdrawing vs electron-donating) on their cytotoxicity. These compounds were synthesized via the Ullmann condensation of anthranilic acids with iodobenzenes or 2-chlorobenzoic acids with aniline derivatives. The SAR studies showed that 1-hydroxy-9-acridones were more active than their 1-OMe derivatives against cell growth of human leukemic HL-60 cells in culture. Replacement of NMe of glyfoline with NH or N(CH2)2NEt2 resulted in either total loss or dramatic reduction of cytotoxicity. Glyfoline congeners with nitro function at the A-ring were inactive, while compounds with amino substituent were shown to be cytotoxic in vitro.

Acridines↗

Synergistic neutralization of HIV-1 by human monoclonal antibodies against the V3 loop and the CD4-binding site of gp120.

Two distinct regions or epitope clusters of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gp120 have been shown to elicit neutralizing antibodies: the V3 loop and the CD4-binding site. We have isolated neutralizing human monoclonal antibodies (HuMAbs) against conserved epitopes in both of these regions. In this study, we demonstrate that an equimolar mixture of two of these HuMAbs, one directed against the V3 loop and the other against the CD4-binding site, neutralizes HIV-1 at much lower concentrations than does either of the individual HuMAbs. Mathematical analysis of this effect suggests cooperative neutralization of HIV-1 by the two HuMAbs and demonstrates a high level of synergy, with combination indices (CIs) of 0.07 and 0.16 for 90% neutralization of the MN and SF-2 strains, respectively. The dose reduction indices (DRIs) for each of the two HuMAbs at 99% neutralization range approximately from 10 to 150. A possible mechanism for this synergism is suggested by binding studies with recombinant gp160 of the MN strain; these show enhanced binding of the anti-CD4 binding site HuMAb in the presence of the anti-V3 loop HuMAb. These results demonstrate the advantage of including both V3 loop and CD4-binding site epitopes in a vaccine against HIV-1 and indicate that combinations of HuMAbs against these two sites may be particularly effective in passive immunotherapy against the virus.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Three-drug synergistic inhibition of HIV-1 replication in vitro by 3'-fluoro-3'-deoxythymidine, recombinant soluble CD4, and recombinant interferon-alpha.

3'-Fluoro-3'deoxythymidine (FLT), recombinant soluble CD4 (CD4), and recombinant interferon-alpha (IFN alpha) were evaluated in two- and three-drug regimens against HIV-1 replication in vitro. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were studied using p24 antigen production as the virologic endpoints. FLT showed 2.5-fold higher efficacy and a similar selectivity index to zidovudine. Drug interactions were evaluated by the median effect principle and the isobologram technique. FLT, CD4, and interferon alpha at noncytotoxic concentrations inhibited HIV-1 synergistically in two- and three-drug combinations with a combination index smaller than one and dose reduction index greater than one. The three-drug regimen provided greater virus suppression than the two-drug regimen. These results suggest that FLT is an alternative agent to AZT for the treatment of HIV infection either as a single agent or in combination with CD4 and/or interferon-alpha.

Antiviral Agents↗

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) inhibitory interactions between protease inhibitor Ro 31-8959 and zidovudine, 2',3'-dideoxycytidine, or recombinant interferon-alpha A against zidovudine-sensitive or -resistant HIV-1 in vitro.

Protease inhibitor Ro 31-8959, a compound that interrupts human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-specific formation of infectious virions, was evaluated in two-drug combined regimens with zidovudine, 2',3'-dideoxycytidine (ddC), or recombinant interferon-alpha A (rIFN-alpha A) against HIV-1 replication in vitro. By using peripheral blood mononuclear cells infected with HIV-1, drug interactions were evaluated by the median-effect principle and the isobologram technique. A zidovudine-sensitive and -resistant HIV-1 isolate pair was studied. Additive to synergistic anti-HIV-1 interactions were seen with 7.5-30 nM Ro 31-8959 and 0.005-0.02 microM zidovudine (for the zidovudine-sensitive HIV-1 isolate), 0.25-1.0 microM zidovudine (for the zidovudine-resistant HIV-1 isolate), 0.025-0.1 microM ddC, and 8-32 units/mL rIFN-alpha A, without additive toxicity. Phase I/II clinical trials of Ro 31-8959 for therapy of HIV-1 infection are in progress. If results are favorable, combined regimens including Ro 31-8959 deserve consideration for future clinical trials.

Cells, Cultured↗

Comparisons of anti-human immunodeficiency virus activities, cellular transport, and plasma and intracellular pharmacokinetics of 3'-fluoro-3'-deoxythymidine and 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine.

3'-Fluoro-3'-deoxythymidine (FLT), a candidate anti-AIDS compound in clinical trials, showed anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) potency (50% effective concentration, 0.0052 microM) slightly better than or equal to that of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) in MT4 cells and was threefold more potent in H9 cells. There was no FLT resistance demonstrable in the AZT-resistant HIV-1 strains. Both FLT and AZT showed low cytotoxicity for MT4 cells, with selectivity indices (efficacy/toxicity ratio) of greater than 47,000 and greater than 33,000, respectively. Cellular permeation of FLT and thymidine (dThd) was greater than that of AZT, and FLT and dThd permeated the cell membranes by a carrier-mediated mechanism as well as by simple diffusion, as indicated by the existence of nitrobenzylthioinosine-5'-monophosphate-sensitive and -insensitive components. By contrast, transport of AZT into cells was by simple diffusion. The intracellular level of the triphosphate of FLT (FLTTP) in MT4 cells was two- to threefold higher than that of AZT (AZTTP) after exposure to 1.8 microM each compound for 12 h. The elimination kinetics of FLTTP and AZTTP in HIV-1-infected MT4 cells in fresh medium showed biphasic patterns, with initial half-lives of 1.03 and 1.09 h, respectively. In phytohemagglutinin-stimulated human peripheral blood lymphocytes, the FLTTP level was increased 59-fold compared with that in unstimulated cells at 12 h, was four- to sixfold higher than the level of AZTTP in stimulated cells at 12 h, and remained four- to fivefold higher during a 4-h elimination period in fresh medium and twofold higher at the end of a 12-h elimination period. Two- to eightfold more [3H]AZT than [3H]FLT was incorporated into the host cell DNA, and both [3H]AZT and [3H]FLT remained persistently incorporated for over 24 h. The incorporated [3H]AZT and [3H]FLT were alkali labile, whereas incorporated [3H]dThd was alkali stable. Pharmacokinetics of FLT in plasma of monkeys after intravenous (i.v.) administration showed that the FLT concentration in plasma declined, with a half-life of 1.19 +/- 0.1 h; the steady-state volume of distribution was 0.93 +/- 0.2 liter/kg of body weight, and total clearance was 0.56 +/- 0.15 liter/kg. Oral bioavailability of FLT was excellent and comparable to i.v. bioavailability in terms of areas under the concentration-time curves for three monkeys. Of the total dose, 41 to 61% was excreted in urine as unchanged FLT, and only 3.2 to 7.4% of the total dose was identified as glucuronide-conjugated FLT in urine 48 h after i.v. administration to monkeys. We conclude that FLT exhibits an anti-HIV-1 potency similar to that of AZT but with slightly better selectivity of effects and with higher intracellular active metabolite levels.

Animals↗

Preclinical pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of the anti-hepatitis virus agent 2'-fluoro-5-ethyl-1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyluracil in mice and rats.

The preclinical pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of 2'-fluoro-5-ethyl-1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyluracil (FEAU), a selective inhibitor of herpesvirus and hepatitis virus replication, were investigated in the mouse and rat. Following intravenous (i.v.) or oral (p.o.) administration, FEAU was cleared from the plasma primarily unchanged, with a terminal half-life of 58 to 80 min in the mouse and 63 to 78 min in the rat. The steady-state volumes of distribution times bioavailabilities of FEAU were approximately 2.1 and 3.4 times the total body water volumes after p.o. administration of 10 mg of drug per kg of body weight in mice and rats, respectively. A comparison of the area under the concentration-time curve after i.v. and p.o. FEAU administration indicated that the p.o. dose was completely absorbed in both species. When tritiated FEAU was used in mice, 35.0% of the i.v. dose and 33.5% of the p.o. dose were excreted in urine as unchanged FEAU, 8.1% (i.v. dose) and 9.2% (p.o. dose) were excreted as tritiated water, and 15.6% (i.v. dose) and 18.1% (p.o. dose) were excreted as unknown metabolite(s) in urine within 24 h of dosing. Only 1.24% (i.v. dose) and 2.6% (p.o. dose) of the total doses were found in urine as 3H2O when the FEAU dose was increased to 50 mg/kg. However, a higher percentage of the total dose (59.6% for the i.v. dose and 61.3% for the p.o. dose) was recovered within 24 h as intact FEAU in rat urine, less than 1.4% (i.v. dose) and 2.7% (p.o. dose) of the total dose were found to be 3H2O, and 5.6% (i.v. dose) and 6.7% (p.o. dose) of the total dose were excreted as known metabolite(s). The distribution ratios for total radioactivity in tissue relative to those in plasma were 0.5 to 1.3 in spleen, testes, muscle, and liver during the first hour after a 10-mg/kg dose in rats. Of the total FEAU radioactivity administered, only 1.38% was excreted in bile as unchanged FEAU. No FEAU glucuronide metabolite was detected. Tissue concentrations of 0.15 to 0.6 microM at 6 h after dosing are in the range of the effective antiviral concentration for FEAU. In conclusion, FEAU administered p.o. to mice and rats was well absorbed; FEAU was rapidly distributed into tissues and remained above in vitro antiviral concentrations for more than 6 h; in mice, [3H]FEAU showed metabolism-mediated tritium exchange with water; and in rats, FEAU was less extensively metabolized than in mice and clearance was primarily via renal processes, mainly in the form of unchanged FEAU.

Administration, Oral↗

Synergistic inhibition of replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1, including that of a zidovudine-resistant isolate, by zidovudine and 2',3'-dideoxycytidine in vitro.

The combination of zidovudine (AZT) and 2',3'-dideoxycytidine synergistically inhibits human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication in vitro with AZT-sensitive and AZT-resistant clinical isolates and HIV-1IIIB. Synergy was determined by the median-effect principle and isobologram techniques. Cytotoxicity of the agents was not observed. Clinical trials are ongoing to define the combination's role in HIV-1 therapy.

Drug Combinations↗

Topoisomerase II-mediated DNA cleavage activity and irreversibility of cleavable complex formation induced by DNA intercalator with alkylating capability.

A group of chrysophanol and emodin derivatives with DNA-intercalating capability and with or without alkylating potential have been synthesized and shown to have antitumor activity in vitro. The topoisomerase II (Topo II)-mediated DNA cleavage activities induced by representative compounds 3-(2-chloroethylamino) methyl-1,8-dihydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone (SK-31690), 3-bis [(2-chloroethyl)amino]methyl-1,8-dihydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone (SK-31662), and 3-(2-hydroxyethylamino)methy-1,8-dihydroxy-9,10-anthraquinon e (SK-31694), and their cytotoxicities, have been investigated. All three compounds inhibited the kinetoplast DNA decatenation catalyzed by DNA Topo II. These compounds inhibited leukemia cell growth and stimulated, in a dose-dependent manner from 0.5 to 60 microM, the formation of Topo II-DNA cleavable complexes, when 3'-32P-labeled DNA was used. The mapping of Topo II-mediated DNA cleavage sites using HindIII-digested 3'-32P-labeled DNA showed that, at 10 microM, these compounds induced protein-linked DNA breaks that correlated with cytotoxicity, with respect to their maximal efficacy or the reciprocal concentration for the half-maximal effect. The reversibility study showed that the amounts of protein-linked DNA cleavage induced by 4'-(9-acridinylamino)methanesulfon-m-anisidide and VP-16 as well as SK-31694, which lacks alkylating potential, were markedly decreased during 30-sec exposure to 65 degrees or 0.5 M NaCl. In contrast, protein-linked DNA cleavages induced by SK-31662, which has two alkylating functionalities, and by SK-31690, which has one alkylating functionality in its structure, cannot be reversed during the 15-min exposure to 65 degrees or 0.5 M NaCl. These data suggest that Topo II is a major cellular target for cytotoxicity of these compounds. Furthermore, DNA intercalators with alkylating potential interact with Topo II-DNA cleavable complexes in an irreversible manner, with enhanced toxicity.

Alkylating Agents↗