Genotoxicity, DNA damage and sperm defects induced by vinblastine.

BACKGROUND: The treatment with chemotherapy may develop secondary tumors as a result of chemo genotoxicity. Sperm defects is another complication associated with chemo treatment. In this study the genotoxicity of vinblastine (VB) was estimated in both somatic and germ cells. MATERIALS: 85 mice were taken. Four single doses of VB at 3, 4.5, 6 and 10 mg/kg and three successive doses at 3, 4.5 and 6 mg/kg were taken for estimation of chromosomal aberrations (CAs). Four single doses of VB were involved in estimating the DNA fragmentation, and comet assay. For sperm abnormalities mice were injected with three successive doses of VB at 3, 4.5, and 6 mg/kg. RESULTS: The results demonstrated a significant frequency of DNA fragmentation in spleen cells and in the percentage of CAs in bone marrow. Numerical and structural aberrations were recorded with a pronounced number of polyploidy metaphases which reached (11.60%) after treatment with 6 mg/kg for three successive days vs zero for control. VB also induced a significant percentage of CAs in spermatocytes in the form of univalent. Sperm defects in the form of coiled tail, absence of acrosome and shapeless head and a significant DNA damage in the testes were recorded. The frequency of sperm abnormalities reached 11.06 ± 0.14 after treatment with highest tested dose (6 mg/kg) vs 3.04 ± 0.19 for control. CONCLUSION: VB is genotoxic in somatic and germ cells. Sperm defects induced by VB are of serious concern to future generations and may affect the fertility of cancer survivors.

ß-III Tubulin Levels Determine the Neurotoxicity Induced by Colchicine-Site Binding Agent Indibulin.

Indibulin, a microtubule-depolymerizing agent, produces minimal neurotoxicity in animals. It is also less cytotoxic toward differentiated neuronal cells than undifferentiated cells. We found that the levels of ß-III tubulin, acetylated tubulin, and polyglutamylated tubulin were significantly increased in differentiated neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y). Since neuronal cells express ß-tubulin isotypes differently from other cell types, we explored the binding of indibulin to different ß-tubulin isotypes. Our molecular docking analysis suggested that indibulin binds to ß-III tubulin with lower affinity than to other ß-tubulin isotypes. We therefore studied the implications of different ß-tubulin isotypes on the cytotoxic effects of indibulin, colchicine, and vinblastine in differentiated SH-SY5Y cells. Upon depletion of ß-III tubulin in the differentiated cells, the toxicity of indibulin and colchicine significantly increased, while sensitivity to vinblastine was unaffected. Using biochemical, bioinformatics, and fluorescence spectroscopic techniques, we have identified the binding site of indibulin on tubulin, which had not previously been established. Indibulin inhibited the binding of colchicine and C12 (a colchicine-site binder) to tubulin and also increased the dissociation constant of the interaction between tubulin and colchicine. Indibulin did not inhibit the binding of vinblastine or taxol to tubulin. Interestingly, indibulin antagonized colchicine treatment but synergized with vinblastine treatment in a combination study performed in MDA-MB-231 cells. The results indicate that indibulin is a colchicine-site binder and that the efficacy of colchicine-site binders is affected by the ß-III tubulin levels in the cells.

RIP1/RIP3/MLKL-mediated necroptosis contributes to vinblastine-induced myocardial damage.

Vinblastine (VBL) has been considered as a first-line anti-tumor drug for many years. However, vinblastine-caused myocardial damage has been continually reported. The underlying molecular mechanism of the myocardial damage remains unknown. Here, we show that vinblastine induces myocardial damage and necroptosis is involved in the vinblastine-induced myocardial damage both in vitro and in vivo. The results of WST-8 and flow cytometry analysis show that vinblastine causes damage to H9c2 cells, and the results of animal experiments show that vinblastine causes myocardial cell damage. The necrosome components, receptor-interacting protein 1 (RIP1) receptor-interacting protein 3 (RIP3), are significantly increased in vinblastine-treated H9c2 cells, primary neonatal rat ventricular myocytes and rat heart tissues. And the downstream substrate of RIP3, mixed lineage kinase domain like protein (MLKL) was also increased. Pre-treatment with necroptosis inhibitors partially inhibits the necrosome components and MLKL levels and alleviates vinblastine-induced myocardial injury both in vitro and in vivo. This study indicates that necroptosis participated in vinblastine-evoked myocardial cell death partially, which would be a potential target for relieving the chemotherapy-related myocardial damage.

Development of an integrated assay in human TK6 cells to permit comprehensive genotoxicity analysis in vitro.

In vitro genetic toxicology assays are used to assess the genotoxic potential of chemicals or mixtures. They measure chromosome damage (e.g., micronucleus [MN] formation) or gene mutation, and different combinations of data generated from such assays are evaluated in concert in order to identify genotoxic hazards. Mode-of-action (MoA) information is also fundamental to understanding any apparent genotoxic response. In view of the importance of these types of data for full characterization of genotoxic potential, we leveraged relevant endpoints already established in the human TK6 cell line to develop a single integrated assay that measures MN formation, gene mutation (at the thymidine kinase locus), and MoA (DNA damage response biomarkers). Several prototypical direct-acting genotoxins (methyl methanesulfonate, mitomycin C, and 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide), pro-genotoxins (benzo[a]pyrene and cyclophosphamide monohydrate), and one non-DNA reactive genotoxin (vinblastine sulfate) were assessed in the approach and found to elicit genotoxic profiles that were generally consistent with their MoA. In contrast, the non-genotoxic agents D-mannitol and (2-chloroethyl) trimethyl-ammonium chloride induced negligible effects on all endpoints up to a top concentration of 10 mM. Sodium diclofenac, presumed to be non-genotoxic, provoked an induction in the phosphoserine10-H3-positive cell population within a small window of concentrations (0.157-0.314 mM), as well as increases in γH2AX, nuclear p53, and MN at higher concentrations, although it had no effect on the mutation frequency endpoint. G2M cell cycle arrest was also largely observed in cells that exhibited genotoxicity in the in vitro MN assay. The TK6 cell-based integrated assay represents an in vitro approach that permits comprehensive genotoxicity analysis in a human-relevant test system. Moreover, its vis-à-vis nature may facilitate further comprehension of the range of effects that can manifest in human cells in response to DNA-damaging agents.

Synthesis and Superpotent Anticancer Activity of Tubulysins Carrying Non-hydrolysable N-Substituents on Tubuvaline.

Synthetic tubulysins 24 a-m, containing non-hydrolysable N-substituents on tubuvaline (Tuv), were obtained in high purity and good overall yields using a multistep synthesis. A key step was the formation of differently N-substituted Ile-Tuv fragments 10 by using an aza-Michael reaction of azido-Ile derivatives 8 with the α,ß-unsaturated oxo-thiazole 5. A structure-activity relationship study using a panel of human tumour cell lines showed strong anti-proliferative activity for all compounds 24 a-m, with IC50 values in the sub-nanomolar range, which were distinctly lower than those of tubulysin A, vinorelbine and paclitaxel. Furthermore, 24 a-m were able to overcome cross-resistance to paclitaxel and vinorelbine in two tumour cell lines with acquired resistance to doxorubicin. Compounds 24 e and 24 g were selected as leads to evaluate their mechanism of action. In vitro assays showed that both 24 e and 24 g interfere with tubulin polymerization in a vinca alkaloid-like manner and prevent paclitaxel-induced assembly of tubulin polymers. Both compounds exerted antimitotic activity and induced apoptosis in cancer cells at very low concentrations. Compound 24 e also exhibited potent antitumor activity at well tolerated doses on in vivo models of diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma, such as MESOII peritoneal mesothelioma xenografts, the growth of which was not significantly affected by vinorelbine. These results indicate that synthetic tubulysins 24 could be used as standalone chemotherapeutic agents in difficult-to-treat cancers.

Baicalein attenuates vinorelbine-induced vascular endothelial cell injury and chemotherapeutic phlebitis in rabbits.

Chemotherapy is one of the major strategies for cancer treatment. Several antineoplastic drugs including vinorelbine (VRB) are commonly intravenously infused and liable to cause serious phlebitis. The therapeutic drugs for preventing this complication are limited. In this study, the mechanism of baicalein (BCN) was investigated on VRB-induced phlebitis in vivo and vascular endothelial cell injury in vitro. Treatment with BCN obviously attenuated vascular endothelial cell loss, edema, inflammatory cell infiltration and blood clots, and reduced the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6 and ICAM-1 in the rabbit model of phlebitis induced by intravenous injection of VRB compared with vehicle. Further tests in vitro demonstrated that BCN lessened VRB-induced endothelial cell apoptosis, decreased intracellular ROS levels, suppressed phosphorylation of p38 and eventually inhibited activation of NF-κB signaling pathway. And these effects could be reversed by p38 agonist P79350. These results suggested that BCN exerted the protective effects against VRB-induced endothelial disruption in the rabbit model of phlebitis via inhibition of intracellular ROS generation and inactivation of p38/NF-κB pathway, leading to the decreased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Thus, BCN could be used as a potential agent for the treatment of phlebitis.

Role of melatonin in mitigating chemotherapy-induced testicular dysfunction in Wistar rats.

Testicular cancer is the most common cancer affecting men of reproductive age, and its incidence is increasing steadily. A regimen of cisplatin (P), vinblastin (V) and bleomycin (B) (PVB) is the standard chemotherapy for testicular cancer. Though PVB-based chemotherapy has been widely used against germ cell tumors, it is associated with induction of oxidative toxicity and a transient or permanent loss of fertility. However, the mechanism of action of PVB on the testis is not thoroughly elucidated. Using a rat model, we investigated the persistence of the effects of PVB on steroidogenesis, spermatogenesis and testicular oxidative status and architecture. Further, we have also studied whether administration of melatonin has any protective effect on testicular physiology in the PVB-treated rats, since melatonin exerts influence on the antioxidant defense system. The body weight of the PVB-treated rats did not show significant change as compared with the control group. Significant decrease in the weight of the testis was observed with a reduction in volume in the PVB-treated rats. Administration of PVB caused a reduction in the testicular steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis. The circulatory levels of testosterone were also significantly reduced with an elevation of FSH and LH in the PVB-treated rats. Testicular architecture was severely affected with a reduction in seminiferous tubule diameter and epithelial height. The activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase were decreased while the levels of lipid peroxidation increased significantly in the testis of the PVB-treated rats indicating depletion of antioxidant defence system and elevation of oxidative stress. Co-administration of melatonin mitigated these changes in the PVB-treated rats.

Single agent vinorelbine in pediatric patients with progressive optic pathway glioma.

The management of progressive unresectable low-grade glioma remains controversial. Treatment options have included radiotherapy, and more recently chemotherapy, usually following an initial period of observation. Within this context, we evaluated vinorelbine, a semi-synthetic vinca alkaloid that has shown evidence of activity against glioma. From July 2007 an institutional protocol with vinorelbine (30 mg/m(2) days 0, 8, 22) for a total of 18 cycles, has been conducted at IOP/GRAACC/UNIFESP for children with optic pathway glioma (OPG). The main objectives were clinical and radiological response, as well as toxicity profile. Twenty-three patients with progressive OPG with a mean age of 69 months (4-179) were enrolled. Three patients had a diagnosis of neurofibromatosis type 1. Twenty-two patients were assessable for response with an overall objective response rate of 63 %, with eight patients showing stable disease. The most important toxicity was hematologic (grade III/IV neutropenia) observed in four patients. Gastrointestinal toxicity (grade I/II vomiting) was observed in seven patients and only 1 patient showed grade I peripheral neuropathy. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 33 months (6.9-69) with a 3 and 5 year PFS of 64 ± 19 and 37 ± 20 %, respectively, for an overall 3 and 5 year-survival of 95 ± 10 %. This study suggests that vinorelbine may be an interesting option for pediatric low-grade gliomas, showing low toxicity profile and providing a good quality of life for patients with such chronic disease.

Protecting effect of caffeine against vinblastine (an anticancer drug) induced genotoxicity in mice.

Vinblastine a DNA non-intercalating agent has wide application against several human neoplasms, and found to cause cytogenotoxicity. In this study, clastogenotoxicity of vinblastine (1.5 mg/kg b w) and its prevention by caffeine at different doses (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg b w) administered intraperitoneally was assessed in in vivo mice. It was found that micronucleus level had decreased significantly (up to 28.8%) in 100 mg caffeine treated group at 30 h post treatment. However, it did not exhibit protective effect against chromosomal aberration in spaermatogonial cells at 24 h post treatment. The frequencies of aberrant primary spermatocytes had decreased significantly in 25 and 100 mg caffeine at 4th week of post treatment. Similarly, in 100 mg of caffeine administered, abnormal sperm level had reduced (4.01%) significantly at 8th week post treatment. Thus, caffeine decreased the vinblastine induced chromosomal aberrations and mitotic index in bone marrow cells. In conclusion, this study shows that caffeine exerts protective effect against vinblastin induced cytogenotoxicity. Further studies on molecular mechanism are interesting in order to develop it as an effective drug in cancer chemotherapy.

An in vitro study on the effect of vinca alkaloid, vinorelbine, on chromatin histone, HMGB proteins and induction of apoptosis in mice non-adherent bone marrow cells.

CONTEXT: Vinoreline is a vinca alkaloid anticancer drug widely used in cancer therapy. Drugs are not target specific, therefore might affect normal tissues/cells, in which bone marrow is the important one. OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the cytotoxic and genotoxic effect of vinca alkaloid anti cancer drug, vinorelbine, on mice non-adherent bone marrow cells in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Non-adherent bone marrow cells were isolated and exposed to various concentrations (0-160 µg/ml) for 4 h at 23 °C. The chromatin proteins were analyzed by SDS PAGE and western blot. Fluorescent dye staining of the cells, anion superoxide and DNA fragmentations assays were also employed. RESULT: The results from MTT and trypan blue exclusion assays represented reduction of the cells viability. Extractability of histones and HMG proteins contrasted with difficulty as their content was decreased on SDS-gel upon increasing drug concentration as western blots confirmed it. The amount of degradation form of PARP (89 KD) increased significantly in a dose dependent manner. Increase in anion superoxide production and DNA fragmentation together with cytological detection of chromatin condensation and cellular damage upon exposure of the cells to vinorelbine were indicative of apoptosis induction in these normal cells. CONCLUSION: Vinorelbine is genotoxic in non-adherent bone marrow cells as affects chromatin components, DNA, histone and HMGB1 proteins and induces apoptosis.

Cimetidine attenuates vinorelbine-induced phlebitis in mice by militating E-selectin expression.

PURPOSE: We investigated E-selectin expression in mice and rabbits with vinorelbine-induced phlebitis and the effect of cimetidine. To find the relationship between E-selectin expression and vinorelbine-induced phlebitis. METHODS: Mouse and rabbit model of vinorelbine-induced phlebitis was established by intravenous infusion of vinorelbine. Pathological observation, molecular-biological determination of E-selectin and protein function of it was evaluated. RESULTS: Grossly, we observed swelling, edema and cord-like vessel changes in mice receiving vinorelbine but only mild edema in mice pretreated with cimetidine. Pathological scoring yielded a total score of 37 for vinorelbine-treated mice and 17 for mice pretreated with cimetidine (P < 0.05). ELISA revealed that rabbits treated with vinorelbine had markedly higher serum contents of E-selectin than normal saline (NS) controls (vinorelbine 1.534 ± 0.449 vs. NS 0.746 ± 0.170 ng/mL, P < 0.05), which was markedly attenuated by cimetidine (cimetidine 0.717 ± 0.468 vs. vinorelbine 1.534 ± 0.449 ng/mL, P < 0.05). Rose Bengal staining assays showed that vinorelbine markedly increased the adhesion rate of neutrophils for endothelial cells (vinorelbine 38.70 ± 8.34% vs. controls 8.93 ± 4.85%, P < 0.01), which, however, was significantly suppressed by cimetidine (9.93 ± 5.91%, P < 0.01 vs. vinorelbine). In E-selectin knockout mice, we found no apparent difference in tail swelling in mice receiving vinorelbine or cimetidine and vinorelbine. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, cimetidine attenuates vinorelbine-induced phlebitis in mice probably by suppressing increased expression of E-selectin.

Aspirin attenuates vinorelbine-induced endothelial inflammation via modulating SIRT1/AMPK axis.

Vinorelbine (VNR), a semisynthetic vinca alkaloid acquired from vinblastine, is frequently used as the candidate for intervention of solid tumors. Nevertheless, VNR-caused endothelial injuries may lead a mitigative effect of clinical treatment efficiency. A growing body of evidence reveals that aspirin is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammation drug. We investigated whether aspirin attenuate VNR-induced endothelial dysfunction. Human endothelial cells (EA.hy 926) were treated with VNR to cause endothelial inflammation. Western blotting, ROS assay, ELISA were used to confirm the anti-inflammatory effect of aspirin. We confirmed that VNR suppresses SIRT1 expression, reduced LKB1 and AMPK phosphorylation as well as enriched PKC activation in treated endothelial cells. Furthermore, the membrane translocation assay displayed that the levels of NADPH oxidase subunits p47phox and Rac-1 in membrane fractions of endothelial cells were higher in cells that had been treated with VNR for than in untreated cells. We corroborated that treatment of Aspirin significantly diminishes VNR-repressed SIRT1, LKB1 and AMPK phosphorylation and VNR-promoted NADPH oxidase activation, however, those findings were vanished by SIRT1 and AMPK siRNAs. Our data also shown that Aspirin represses VNR-activated TGF-beta-activated kinase-1 (TAK1) activation, inhibited the interaction of TAK1/TAK-binding protein1 (TAB1), suppressed NF-kappa B activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion. We demonstrated a novel connection between VNR-caused oxidative damages and endothelial dysfunction, and provide further insight into the protective effects of aspirin in VNR-caused endothelial dysfunction.

Induction of the connexin 32 gene by epigallocatechin-3-gallate potentiates vinblastine-induced cytotoxicity in human renal carcinoma cells.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Enforced expression of the connexin (Cx) 32 gene, a member of the gap junction gene family and a tumor suppressor gene in human renal cell carcinoma (RCC), enhanced vinblastine (VBL)-induced cytotoxicity in RCC cells due to suppression of multidrug resistance 1 (MDR1) expression. Furthermore, in RCC the Cx32 gene is silenced by hypermethylation of CpG islands in a promoter region of the Cx gene. In this study, we investigated if the green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) could enhance susceptibility of RCC cells (Caki-1, a human metastatic RCC cell) to VBL. METHODS: The effects of EGCG on Caki-1 cells were estimated by WST-1 (cell viability), real-time RT-PCR (mRNA level) and immunoblotting (protein level). We estimated the methylation status in the promoter region of the Cx32 gene in RCC cells by methylation-specific PCR. Each protein function was inhibited by small interfering RNA (siRNA) and specific inhibitors. RESULTS: The EGCG treatment elicited significant upregulation of Cx32 in Caki-1 cells, and the induction of the Cx led to the suppression of MDR1 mRNA expression through inactivation of Src and subsequent activation of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK). Chemical sensitivity to VBL in Caki-1 cells was increased by EGCG pretreatment, and this effect was abrogated by siRNA-mediated knockdown of Cx32. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the restoration of Cx32 by EGCG pretreatment improves chemical tolerance on VBL in Caki-1 cells via the inactivation of Src and the activation of JNK.

Resveratrol protects against vinorelbine-induced vascular endothelial cell injury.

Vinorebine (VNR), a second-generation vinca alkaloid antitumor drug, caused serious local venous toxicities, such as venous irritation, phlebitis and necrotizing vasculitis. This study investigated whether resveratrol (RES), a naturally occurring polyphenol compound, could reduce the vascular injury induced by VNR. Human vascular endothelial cell line ECV-304 cells were exposed to VNR for 10 min and then cells were cultured with serum-free medium with or without RES for 24 h. MTT (3-[4, 5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl]-2, 5-diphe-nyl-2-tetrazolium bromide) assay was used to detect the cell viability. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured with 2', 7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA). The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was assessed by SOD detection kit. VNR decreased the viability of ECV-304 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, VNR caused cell apoptosis, the generation of intracellular ROS and the reduction of intracellular SOD. Interestingly, pretreatment with RES for 2 h increased the cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. Cell apoptosis, the intracellular ROS generation and the reduction of intracellular SOD induced by VNR were also attenuated when cells were pretreated with RES for 2 h. These results demonstrated that RES would protect against vascular endothelial cell injury induced by VNR. So the use of RES together with VNR may be a possible therapeutic approach to avoid the vascular injury induced by VNR.

Vinblastine rapidly induces NOXA and acutely sensitizes primary chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells to ABT-737.

Proteins of the BCL2 family provide a survival mechanism in many human malignancies, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The BCL2 inhibitor ABT-263 (navitoclax) is active in clinical trials for lymphoid malignancies, yet resistance is expected on the basis of preclinical models. We recently showed that vinblastine can dramatically sensitize several leukemia cell lines to ABT-737 (the experimental congener of ABT-263). The goal of these experiments was to determine the impact of vinblastine on ABT-737 sensitivity in CLL cells isolated from peripheral blood and to define the underlying mechanism. Freshly isolated CLL cells from 35 patients, as well as normal lymphocytes and platelets, were incubated with various microtubule-disrupting agents plus ABT-737 to assess sensitivity to the single agents and the combination. ABT-737 and vinblastine displayed a range of sensitivity as single agents, and vinblastine markedly sensitized all CLL samples to ABT-737 within six hours. Vinblastine potently induced the proapoptotic protein PMAIP1 (NOXA) in both time- and dose-dependent manner and this was required for the observed apoptosis. Combretastatin A4, which dissociates microtubules by binding to a different site, had the same effect, confirming that interaction of these agents with microtubules is the initial target. Similarly, vincristine and vinorelbine induced NOXA and enhanced CLL sensitivity to ABT-737. Furthermore, vinblastine plus ABT-737 overcame stroma-mediated resistance to ABT-737 alone. Apoptosis was induced with clinically achievable concentrations with no additional toxicity to normal lymphocytes or platelets. These results suggest that vinca alkaloids may improve the clinical efficacy of ABT-263 in patients with CLL.

New DNA probes to detect aneugenicity in rat bone marrow micronucleated cells by a pan-centromeric FISH analysis.

When characterizing the genotoxicity of chemicals that induce micronuclei, it is practical to be able to classify the chemicals as aneugens or clastogens. This classification gives information on the mechanistic properties of chemicals and is indispensable for setting the threshold safety margins for genotoxicity in pharmaceutical development. A widely used method for detecting aneugens is fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) but, even though the rat is an experimental animal generally used in preclinical studies in drug development, DNA probes that hybridize to all the centromeres of rat chromosomes have not yet been established. In the present study, in addition to the previously known satellite I sequence, we identified two novel satellite sequences, satellite II and satellite III, from the rat genome database. DNA probes with a mixture of these satellite DNA sequences were used to establish a FISH method for pan-centromeric staining of rat chromosomes. To confirm the feasibility of the method, vinblastine (VBS) and mitomycin C (MMC) were administered to rats as a typical aneugen and clastogen, respectively. Micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCE) from bone marrow were enriched by sorting in flow cytometry and subjected to the FISH method. As a result, the ratio of centromere-positive MNPCE increased in VBS-treated rats but not in MMC-treated ones. Since the FISH method using the novel DNA probes clearly discriminates the aneugens from the clastogens, we suggest this method as a useful tool for providing mechanistic information for micronucleus induction in vivo.

Inhibition of P-glycoprotein mediated multidrug resistance by stemofoline derivatives.

Resistance to chemotherapy in cancer patients has been correlated to the overexpression of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) drug transporters including P-glycoprotein (P-gp) that actively efflux chemotherapeutic drugs from cancer cells. We examined the multidrug resistance reversing property of stemofoline derivatives in drug-resistance human cervical carcinoma (KB-V1) and human leukemic (K562/Adr) cell lines that overexpress P-gp. Didehydrostemofoline and eleven of its derivatives were synthesized and the cytotoxicity and their effect on doxorubicin, vinblastine and paclitaxel sensitivity in drug resistant (KB-V1 and K562/Adr) and drug sensitive (KB-3-1 and K562) cell lines by a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay were determined. We found that three out of the twelve stemofoline derivatives including OH-A1, NH-B6 and NH-D6 showed commitment efficiency to increase sensitivity to doxorubicin, vinblastine and paclitaxel in KB-V1 cells and increase sensitivity to doxorubicin, and paclitaxel in K562/Adr cells whereas the effects have not been seen in their parental sensitive cancer cell lines (KB-3-1 and K562). These results indicate that stemofoline derivatives reversed P-gp-mediated multidrug resistance in vitro, and thus could be developed as effective chemosensitizers to treat multidrug-resistant cancers. The molecular mechanism of modulation of P-gp would be further determined.

Targeting folate receptors to treat invasive urinary bladder cancer.

Folate receptors (FR) may be of use for targeted delivery of cytotoxic drugs in invasive urothelial carcinoma (iUC), for which improved therapy is needed. FR expression and function in iUC were explored and the antitumor activity and toxicity of a folate-targeted vinblastine conjugate were evaluated in dogs with naturally occurring iUC, an excellent model for human iUC. FR immunohistochemistry was carried out on iUC and normal human and dog bladder tissues together with nuclear scintigraphy in dogs to monitor iUC folate uptake. Dose escalation of a folate-targeted vinblastine compound, EC0905, was conducted in dogs with biopsy-confirmed, FR-positive iUC. FRs were detected by immunohistochemistry (PU17) in most primary iUC and many nodal and lung metastases from dogs, and scintigraphy confirmed folate uptake in both primary and metastatic lesions. The maximum tolerated dose of EC0905 in dogs was 0.25 mg/kg IV weekly, with neutropenia at higher doses. Tumor responses included partial remission (≥ 50% reduction in tumor volume) in five dogs and stable disease (<50% change in tumor volume) in four dogs. Immunoreactivity to PU17 was similar in humans (78% of primary iUC, 80% of nodal metastases). Less immunoreactivity to mab343 (22% of cases) occurred. FR-ß was noted in 21% of human iUC cases. Our findings suggest folate-targeted therapy holds considerable promise for treating iUC, where FR-ß may be important in addition to FR-α.

Vinblastine-induced cytogenotoxicity in spermatogonia and its transmission in the germline cells of Swiss mice.

Vinblastine, a cytotoxic anti-neoplastic drug and a known mitotic spindle inhibitor, has reportedly induced numerical and structural alterations in chromosome complements of treated animals. In the present study, cytogenotoxic effects of three different doses of vinblastine (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mg/kg body weight) were assessed from mouse spermatogonia at 24 hours after treatment after a single intraperitoneal exposure. The transmission potential of such effects in the male germline of mice was also assessed from primary spermatocytic chromosome analysis and sperm morphology assay at weeks 4 and 8 after treatments, respectively. Induction of statistically significant percentages of aberrant spermatogonial metaphases (P ≤ 0.01) and chromosomal aberrations (excluding gaps) (P ≤ 0.05) in vinblastine-treated mice indicated its clastogenicity. Induction of significant percentages of aberrant primary spermatocytes with atypical bivalents (P ≤ 0.01) and different categories of abnormal sperm, although not with significant variation in frequency, indicated the transmission of vinblastine-induced cytogenotoxic effects from spermatogonia to spermatocyte to sperm. We conclude that vinblastine is cytogenotoxic to mouse spermatogonia and that such induced effects are transmissible in the male germline cells of Swiss mice. Potential transmission of such cytogenotoxic effects, from cancer survivors of reproductive age with vinblastine pretreatment through gametes, is a serious concern.

Evaluation of the efficacy, toxicity and safety of vinorelbine incorporated in a lipid emulsion.

To reduce the severe adverse effects of vinorelbine (VRB) with the aim of improving patient compliance, a parenteral vinorelbine-loaded lipid emulsion (VLE) has been developed. The objective of the present study was to get insight into the preclinical antitumor efficacy, toxicity and safety of VLE, and compare this with that of the commercial product, Navelbine(®) i.v. (VS). Comparable antitumor efficacy of VLE and VS was observed in tumor-bearing nude mouse models inoculated with A549 human lung cancer, hepatoma solidity (Heps) G2 cancer and BCAP-37 human breast cancer cells. The median lethal dose (LD(50)) in mice was 29.3mg/kg (male) and 32.1mg/kg (female) for VLE, while the corresponding value was 30.5mg/kg (male and female) for VS. In the long-term toxicity study, VLE significantly reduced the decreases in RBC, HC, WBC and WBC differential count (DC) levels. Lesions in spleen, thymus, lymph nodes, bone marrow, testis, ovary and injection site induced by VS were much more severe compared with VLE. VLE also exhibited less local venous irritation than VS, as well as no hemolysis or hypersensitivity. Consequently, these observations clearly indicate that the lipid emulsion could be a useful potential parenteral carrier for VRB with equivalent efficacy and lower toxicity.