Se-methylselenocysteine offers selective protection against toxicity and potentiates the antitumour activity of anticancer drugs in preclinical animal models.

BACKGROUND: Identification and development of drugs that can effectively modulate the therapeutic efficacy and toxicity of chemotherapy remain an unmet challenge. We evaluated the effects of Se-methylselenocysteine (MSC) on the toxicity and antitumour activity of cyclophosphamide, cisplatin, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan in animal models. METHODS: Cyclophosphamide, cisplatin, and oxaliplatin were administered by a single i.v. injection and irinotecan by i.v. weekly × 4 schedules. For the combination, MSC was administered daily via the oral route for 7 days in mice and daily for 14 days in rats before and concurrent with drug administration. RESULTS: Se-methylselenocysteine significantly protected against organ-specific toxicity induced by lethal doses of cyclophosphamide, cisplatin, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan. These include diarrhoea, stomatitis, alopecia, bladder, kidney, and bone marrow toxicities. Protection from lethal toxicity by MSC was associated with enhanced antitumour activity in rats bearing advanced Ward colorectal carcinoma and in nude mice bearing human squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, FaDu, and A253 xenografts. CONCLUSIONS: Se-methylselenocysteine offers selective protection against organ-specific toxicity induced by clinically active agents and enhances further antitumour activity, resulting in improved therapeutic index. These data provided the rationale for the need to clinically evaluate MSC as selective modulator of the antitumour activity and selectivity of anticancer drugs.

A phase I study of capecitabine and a modulatory dose of irinotecan in metastatic breast cancer.

PURPOSE: There is a need for chemotherapy regimens active against anthracycline- and taxane-refractory breast cancer. Data from preclinical and pilot studies performed at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) suggested that when irinotecan (IRN) is given with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) efficacy is affected by the sequence of drug administration. Pretreatment with IRN 24 h before 5-FU increased the number of tumor cells in S-phase and the antitumor activity in a preclinical system. These data provided the rationale for the evaluation of IRN and capecitabine, a 5-FU prodrug, sequentially administered in patients with metastatic breast cancer. The main objective of the study was to determine the MTD and identify dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) of capecitabine and IRN. Additionally, the degree of accumulation of cells in S-phase in tumor biopsies obtained at 24 h after the first dose of IRN was measured in consenting patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Metastatic breast cancer patients who experienced disease progression after at least one (taxane or anthracycline based) chemotherapy regimen and an expected survival of at least 3 months and ECOG performance status 0-2 were eligible. Twelve patients were enrolled and treated. The starting doses were IRN 80 mg/m(2) given over 90 min on days 1, 8, 22, 29, and capecitabine 1,500 mg/m(2)/day given days 2-15 and 23-36. Evaluation for response was performed after the first cycle. Sequential tumor biopsies were performed on five patients. RESULTS: The first three patients treated exhibited modulation in cyclin A index on tumor biopsy as defined by the study, defining the modulatory dose of IRN as 80 mg/m(2). Overall, 4/5 biopsies showed modulation. Dose Limiting Toxicities (DLTs) were assessed during the first cycle of therapy. Two DLTs (Grade 3 nausea vomiting and dehydration; grade 3 pneumonia, hypoxia, hypotension) were seen at dose level 2 of capecitabine (2,000 mg/m(2)/day) and the first cohort was expanded. There were no DLTs for patients treated at DL 1. No grade 3-4 toxicities occurred at DL 1. Seven patients were evaluable for response following one cycle of treatment (partial response 1, stable disease 4, progressive disease 2) Of the five inevaluable patients, two experienced DLT, one received 50% of the planned capecitabine dose, one progressed prior to evaluation, and one withdrew consent. CONCLUSION: IRN 80 mg/m(2) days 1, 8, 22, 29 in combination with capecitabine 1,500 mg/m(2)/day in divided dose days 2-15 and 23-36 has an acceptable toxicity profile and resulted in modulation of S-phase in 4/5 specimens examined. Further studies of the activity of this combination and modulatory effect of IRN are warranted.

Potentiation of irinotecan sensitivity by Se-methylselenocysteine in an in vivo tumor model is associated with downregulation of cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha expression, resulting in reduced angiogenesis.

Until recently, the use of Se-methylselenocysteine (MSC) as selective modulator of the antitumor activity and selectivity of anticancer drugs including irinotecan, a topoisomerase I poison, had not been evaluated. Therapeutic synergy between MSC and irinotecan was demonstrated by our laboratory in mice bearing human squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck tumors. In FaDu xenografts, a poorly differentiated tumor-expressing mutant p53, the cure rate was increased from 30% with irinotecan alone to 100% with the combination of irinotecan and MSC. Cellular exposure to cytotoxic concentration of SN-38, the active metabolite of irinotecan (0.1 microM) alone and in combination with noncytotoxic concentration of MSC (10 microM) did not result in additional enhancement of chk2 phosphorylation and downregulation of specific DNA replication-associated proteins, cdc6, MCM2, cdc25A, nor increase in PARP cleavage, caspase activation and the 30-300 kb DNA fragmentation induced by SN-38 treatment. MSC did not alter significantly markers associated with apoptosis, nor potentiate irinotecan-induced apoptosis. These results indicate that apoptosis is unlikely to be one of the main mechanism associated with the observed in vivo therapeutic synergy. In contrast, significant downregulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and activity was observed in the cells exposed to SN-38 in combination with MSC compared to SN-38 alone. Moreover, the inhibition of PGE(2) production was also observed in the cells treated with the combination as compared with SN-38 alone. Analysis of tumor tissues at 24 h after treatment with synergistic modality of irinotecan and MSC revealed significant downregulation of COX-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and hypoxia-induced factor-1alpha expression (HIF 1alpha). Moreover, decreased microvessel density was observed after irinotecan treatment with the addition of MSC. These results suggest that observed therapeutic synergy correlates with the inhibition of neoangiogenesis through the downregulation of COX-2, iNOS and HIF-1alpha expression.

Role of fluoropyrimidine Schedule and (6R,S)leucovorin dose in a preclinical animal model of colorectal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Fluorouracil (5-FU) and 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (FdUrd), used alone or in combination with other cytotoxic agents, exhibit limited efficacy in the treatment of advanced gastrointestinal cancer. (6R,S)leucovorin (LV), a source of reduced folate cofactor, can modulate (i.e., enhance) the therapeutic efficacy of treatment with these fluoropyrimidines (FPs). The role of FP schedule and lv dose in modulating FP antitumor activity, using clinically relevant drug doses and schedules, has not been fully documented. PURPOSE: We evaluated the antitumor activities and the toxic effects of 5-FU and FdUrd, used either alone or in combination with LV, by following three clinically relevant treatment schedules in rats bearing advanced ward colorectal carcinomas. METHODS: Maximum tolerated doses (MTDs), i.e., doses producing a reversible body weight loss of no more than 20% with no lethality, of 5-FU and FdUrd, either individually or in combination with LV, were used in the following treatment schedules: (I) 4 days of continuous intravenous FP infusion (with or without a daily 2-hour lv infusion); (II) a daily FP intravenous push for 4 days (LV, when given, was administered as a 2-hour infusion, with the FP push given after the first hour of LV treatment); and (III) an FP intravenous push given weekly for 3 weeks (the coadministration of LV and FP was performed as in schedule II). In these studies, LV was given at either a low dose (20 mg/kg [body weight] per day) or a high dose (200 mg/kg per day). The MTDs of 5-FU and FdUrd, with or without LV, were defined in normal rats. Antitumor activities were assessed in animals 12-14 days after they received subcutaneous tumor implants. Toxic effects at the MTD were evaluated in both normal and tumorbearing animals. RESULTS: With schedules I and II, the MTD of 5-FU alone was 35 mg/kg per day; with schedule III, it was 100 mg/kg per week. For FdUrd alone, the MTD was 100 mg/kg per day with schedules I and II and 400 mg/kg per week with schedule III. Coadministration of LV reduced the MTD of both 5-FU and FdUrd by approximately 25%-30%, irrespective of the LV dose used. The dose-limiting toxic effects of treatment with 5-FU and FdUrd were diarrhea and/or stomatitis, the relative severity of which depended on the schedule of FP administration. The profile of toxic effects was not altered by LV when used at either dose. FP antitumor activity was modulated by LV in all three treatment schedules, but the greatest effects were seen using schedule III, where more complete tumor regression was seen with high-dose LV than with low dose LV. LV potentiated the antitumor activity of FdUrd to a greater extent than that observed with 5-FU. CONCLUSIONS: In this rat model of colorectal carcinoma, the extent to which FP antitumor activity is modulated by LV depends on the schedule of FP administration and the dose of LV used.

Effects of liposome-entrapped doxorubicin on liver metastases of mouse colon carcinomas 26 and 38.

The effects of doxorubicin (DOX) and DOX entrapped in standardized liposomes [mean diameter, 0.15 micron; (DOX-Lip)] on the survival of mice bearing liver metastases of mouse colon carcinoma CT38LD (C57BL/6J mice) or CT26 (BALB/c mice) were investigated. In vitro cultured CT38LD cells were more sensitive to DOX than CT26. In vivo DOX and DOX-Lip, administered iv 10 mg/kg weekly to a maximum of five injections, increased the life-spans of mice bearing CT38LD liver metastases 32% (P less than .05) and 64% (P less than .05), respectively. DOX-Lip was more effective than DOX in prolonging survival (P less than .05). Free DOX did not significantly increase the life-spans of mice bearing CT26 liver metastases (P greater than .5), whereas DOX-Lip increased the life-spans 35% (P less than .05). The results suggest that liposomal delivery of agents to the liver can enhance therapeutic activity and could be used as an arm of protocols for adjuvant therapy of liver metastases.

Role of administration route in the therapeutic efficacy of doxifluridine.

Effect of drug administration route on the therapeutic efficacy of the 5-fluorouracil (FUra) analogue doxifluridine [(5'-dFUrd); 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine] was investigated in Fischer CDF rats bearing a chemically induced transplantable colon carcinoma sensitive to fluoropyrimidines. The antitumor activities of 5'-dFUrd and of its parent drug FUra were evaluated after 7 days of continuous administration (by iv infusion, iv push, or po route) of doses ranging from 125 to 750 mg 5'-dFUrd/kg/day and from 12.5 to 55 mg FUra/kg/day. At the maximally tolerated dose, 5'-dFUrd (500 mg/kg/day) and FUra (25-35 mg/kd/day) were equally effective in producing cures when treatments were performed by either continuous iv infusion or iv push. 5'-dFUrd was more effective than FUra when these agents were administered orally (82% cures for 5'-dFUrd vs. 30% cures for FUra). Concentrations of 5'-dFUrd and its metabolite FUra in the blood and urine of normal and tumor-bearing rats were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography following administration of 500 mg 5'-dFUrd/kg. Pharmacokinetic studies indicated that at comparable antitumor activity, systemic exposures to FUra derived from 500 mg 5'-dFUrd/kg administered by iv push, orally, or continuous iv infusion were 3.5 +/- 1.0, 3.2 +/- 1.1, and 1.5 +/- 0.3 mM X min, respectively. Antitumor activity and pharmacokinetic results obtained in this model system indicated that 5'-dFUrd is an active agent that can produce cures regardless of the route of administration employed and among the three methods of drug administration tested, comparable tumor-free survival can be achieved by continuous iv infusion of 5'-dFUrd with the concomitant lowest systemic exposure to the cytotoxic metabolite FUra.

1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine metabolism and incorporation into DNA as determinants of in vivo murine tumor cell response.

In this study, 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine 5'-triphosphate (ara-CTP) formation, retention, and incorporation into DNA were simultaneously evaluated in vivo in mice bearing leukemia cells sensitive to 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C) (L1210/0), leukemia cells resistant to ara-C (L1210/R), P288, and lymphosarcoma P1798, namely cells characterized by differential sensitivity to ara-C. In L1210/R cells, resistance to ara-C was correlated with low deoxycytidine-cytidine kinase activity (0.04 nmol/mg protein/min), with a low level of intracellular accumulation of ara-CTP, with a low level of incorporation of ara-C into DNA, and with no significant inhibition of thymidine incorporation into DNA. Thus a simple measurement of the intracellular pool of total ara-C nucleotides is sufficient to identify cells with this type of resistance. In contrast, in cells with sufficient deoxycytidine-cytidine kinase activity (greater than 0.1 nmol/mg protein/min), the factors determining the quality of response to ara-C could be distinguished as follows: (a) those which are responsible for in vitro cytotoxicity (producing in vivo cytoreduction); and (b) those which are responsible for in vivo selectivity (producing long term survivors). In P288 cells which are sensitive in vitro to ara-C, the determining factor for this sensitivity is the amount of ara-CTP formed which produced greater than 80% inhibition of thymidine incorporation into DNA. The lack of antitumor activity in vivo, however, was due to similarities in ara-CTP retention in target tumor cells (P288) and normal bone marrow cells. In both cases, ara-CTP retention at 4 h was less than 10% of the value obtained at 30 min. In contrast, in cells such as L1210 and P1798 long term survivors (cures) were directly correlated with higher ara-CTP retention. For example, 4 h after drug administration, ara-CTP retentions were 20, 82, and 6% for L1210, P1798, and bone marrow cells, respectively. At 24 h, 20% ara-CTP was retained intracellularly by P1798 tumor cells. In summary, results presented herein demonstrate the importance of differential ara-CTP retention as the most critical determinant of response for the induction of long term survivors, and ara-C incorporation into DNA by tumor cells after in vivo treatment appears to be less significant. These data also demonstrate close correlation between ara-CTP pools, retention, and the extent of inhibition of recovery of thymidine incorporation into DNA.

Potential for selective enhancement of the in vivo metabolism of 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine in rats by thymidine pretreatment.

In this study, the ability of deoxythymidine (dThd) to enhance selectively the metabolism of 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C) in rats bearing transplantable colon carcinoma was investigated. A steady-state plasma level of 375 microM dThd was achieved within 3 h after initiation of a 24-h infusion of dThd (7 g/kg/day) with a concomitant 80% reduction in circulating 2'-deoxycytidine levels. Complete recovery to control values occurred within 6 to 8 h after termination of the infusion. Under the conditions of dThd infusion, the intracellular levels of 2'-deoxycytidine 5'-triphosphate rose from 0.15 to 60 pmol/mg tumor tissue, from 2.5 to 15 pmol/mg intestinal tissue, and from 0.07 to 0.25 pmol/10(6) bone marrow cells. During the steady-state plasma concentration of dThd, the intracellular concentration of 2'-deoxycytidine 5'-triphosphate in tumor tissue was reduced by 50% at 6 h after the initiation of dThd treatment with a complete recovery 9 h thereafter. Differences in the capacity of tumor and host normal tissues to recover from the effects of dThd pretreatment were evaluated by measuring decreasing 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine 5'-triphosphate formation with time following dThd infusion. The ability to accumulate 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine 5'-triphosphate was reduced by 60 to 80% in normal tissues by 3 h after cessation of the dThd infusion but was decreased by only 15% in the tumor. These results suggested that delaying ara-C administration following dThd might result in less host toxicity while maintaining the antitumor effect. Sequential infusion of dThd (7 g/kg/day) for 24 h followed 3 h later by a 48-h infusion of ara-C (175 mg/kg/day), was as effective in reducing tumor mass as was dThd infusion immediately prior to ara-C and resulted in reduced host toxicity (less weight loss). The best schedule for the dThd-ara-C combination was two courses of alternating 24-h sequential infusions of dThd and ara-C with a 3-h delay in ara-C administration following dThd. These data show that under the conditions used, reductions in intracellular 2'-deoxythymidine 5'-triphosphate pools by dThd in vivo do not appear to correlate with the antitumor activity of the dThd-ara-C combination. Intracellular 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine 5'-triphosphate accumulation, however, was prolonged in rat colon tumor compared to normal tissues, and selectivity of the dThd-ara-C combination in favor of the tumor could be achieved by schedule modification.

Synergistic antitumor activity of irinotecan in combination with 5-fluorouracil in rats bearing advanced colorectal cancer: role of drug sequence and dose.

The basis for current clinical trials in the treatment of colorectal cancer with the combination of irinotecan (CPT-11) and 5-fluorouracil (FUra) with or without leucovorin (LV) is their proven activity as single agents, their different mechanisms of action, and lack of CPT-11 cross-resistance to previous FUra/LV treatment. The role of drug dose and administration sequence in this combination was studied in vivo using a rat colon tumor model (Ward colon carcinoma); we administered CPT-11 and FUra by i.v. push once a week for four consecutive weeks (weekly x 4), a clinically relevant schedule. The maximum tolerated doses (MTDs) of CPT-11 and FUra administered as single agents were 100 mg/kg/week for both agents. Three different combination administration sequences were evaluated: (a) CPT-11 administered simultaneously with FUra (sequence I); (b) FUra administered 24 h before CPT-11 (sequence II); and (c) CPT-11 administered 24 h before FUra (sequence III). When combining the two drugs at 50% of their respective MTD, the antitumor efficacy was sequence dependent with 62, 38, and 95% complete tumor regression rate for sequences I, II, and III, respectively. For sequences I and II, dose escalation to 75% of the MTD for each drug was paralleled by reversible host toxicity with no significant increase in the antitumor activity of the combination. With sequence III, however, the combination was lethal in 100% of treated animals when the doses of both drugs were at 75% of the MTD or higher. With the sequential combination of CPT-11 followed 24 h later by FUra (sequence III), the high complete tumor regression rate (cure) could be maintained, even when the dose of CPT-11 was reduced to 12.5% of the MTD as long as the doses of FUra was kept at 50 -75 % of the MTD. The data demonstrate that the antitumor activity and toxicity of combining CPT-11 with FUra is highly sequence dependent and that a sequence of CPT-11 preceding FUra is superior with a significant increase in the therapeutic index over the other sequences tested. In addition, the data also demonstrate that toxicity associated with high dose of CPT-11 can be eliminated without loss of the antitumor efficacy by reducing the dose of CPT-11 to at least 50% of its MTD, whereas the dose of FUra is kept at 50-75 % of its MTD.

Effects of diastereoisomers of 5-formyltetrahydrofolate on cellular growth, sensitivity to 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine, and methylenetetrahydrofolate polyglutamate levels in HCT-8 cells.

We investigated the biological activities of the natural and unnatural diastereoisomers of 5-formyltetrahydrofolate [(6S)- and (6R)-5-HCO-H4PteGlu, respectively, both 99.99% pure], using a human ileocecal carcinoma cell line (HCT-8). Optimal cell growth could be supported by (6S)-5-HCO-H4PteGlu at concentrations as low as 1 nM. (6R)-5-HCO-H4PteGlu did not support growth. Modulation of the in vitro cytotoxicity of 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (FdUrd) and intracellular (6R)-5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolates [(6R)-CH2H4PteGlun] pools by (6S)- and (6R)-5-HCO-H4PteGlu was determined with cells growing in 1 nM (6S)-5-HCO-H4PteGlu. For the control cells, the concentration of FdUrd inhibiting growth by 50% was 179 nM and the total (6R)-CH2H4PteGlun was 2.3 pmol/10(6) cells. When cells were treated with (6S)-5-HCO-H4PteGlu for 24 h, the 50% inhibition concentration of FdUrd decreased with increasing concentrations of (6S)-5-HCO-H4PteGlu, and reached a plateau of 36 nM when (6S)-5-HCO-H4PteGlu was greater than or equal to 1 microM. The total (6R)-CH2H4PteGlun pools were augmented by (6S)-5-HCO-H4PteGlu dose dependently up to 6.8 pmol/10(6) cells at 1 microM (6S)-5-HCO-H4PteGlu. (6S)-5-HCO-H4PteGlu at 10 microM did not further increase the total (6R)-CH2H4PteGlun, but induced a marked shift in the polyglutamate chain length distribution, with an increase in tri- and tetra-, and a decrease in penta-, hexa-, and heptaglutamate. The down-shift of (6R)-CH2H4-PteGlun polyglutamate chain length observed after (6S)-5-HCO-H4PteGlu treatment did not impair the modulation of FdUrd cytotoxicity. Thus shorter chain (6R)-CH2H4PteGlua (n = 3-4) function as well as longer ones (n = 5-7). (6R)-5-HCO-H4PteGlu, at 200 microM, had no effect on the cytotoxicity of FdUrd, the total (6R)-CH2H4PteGlun level, or chain length distribution in the presence or absence of additional (6S)-5-HCO-H4PteGlu. These results suggest that the high plasma (6R)-5-HCO-H4PteGlu concentrations (up to 200 microM) achieved in patients following i.v. administration of high doses of (6R,S)-5-HCO-H4PteGlu probably do not have adverse effects on the modulation of antitumor activity of FdUrd or 5-fluorouracil. Since the optimal dose and schedule of (6S)-5-HCO-H4PteGlu for modulation of fluoropyrimidines may vary from one cell type to another, introducing high doses of (6R,S)-5-HCO-H4PteGlu in patients so that the plasma concentration of the natural isomer reaches 10 microM is still recommended.

Inhibition of tumor cell growth in vitro and in vivo by 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine entrapped within phospholipid vesicles.

Phospholipid vesicles have been used as a carrier vehicle to enhance the cytotoxic activity of 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl-cytosine (ara-C) and 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine 5'-triphosphate against several tumor cell lines. The activity of both compounds in free solution or entrapped within phospholipid vesicles was compared against L1210 cells, Ehrlich ascites cells, and SV40-transformed 3T3 cells in vitro. In addition, the activity of vesicle-entrapped ara-C against L1210 cells was also studied in vivo. The results obtained in vitro with ara-C indicated no difference in the concentration needed to inhibit growth of cells by 50% between free ara-C and vesicle-entrapped ara-C. In contrast, 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine 5'-triphosphate entrapped in phospholipid vesicles was a more potent inhibitor of L1210 in culture (ID50, 2 X 10(-8) M) compared to the relatively inactive free 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine 5'-triphosphate (id50 greater than 10(-7) M). Experiments carried out with L1210 cells in mice showed that, after a single i.p. dose (10 mg/kg) of vesicle-entrapped ara-C, the average survival times of mice inoculated with 10(5) L1210 cells were increased by over 90%. In control experiments, free ara-C or vesicles plus free ara-C (10 mg/kg) did not prolong survival of mice.

Application of a new approach for the quantitation of drug synergism to the combination of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum and 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine.

This report describes the application of a new approach, the universal response surface approach, to the quantitative assessment of drug interaction, i.e., the determination of synergism, antagonism, additivity, potentiation, inhibition, and coalitive action. The specific drug combination and experimental growth system for this introductory application was that of 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C) and cisplatin with simultaneous drug exposure (1, 3, 6, 12, or 48 h) against L1210 leukemia in vitro. To quantitate the type and degree of drug interaction, a model was fitted using nonlinear regression to the data from each separate experiment, and parameters were estimated (K. C. Syracuse and W. R. Greco, Proc. Biopharm. Sect. Am. Stat. Assoc., 127-132, 1986). The parameters included the maximum cell density over background in absence of drug, the background cell density in presence of infinite drug, the 50% inhibitory concentrations and concentration-effect slopes for each drug, and a synergism-antagonism parameter, alpha. A positive alpha indicates synergism, a negative alpha, antagonism, and a zero alpha, additivity. Maximal synergy was found with a 3-h exposure of ara-C + cisplatin, with alpha = 3.08 +/- 0.96 (SE) and 2.44 +/- 0.70 in two separate experiments. Four different graphic representations of the raw data and fitted curves provide visual indications of goodness of fit of the estimated dose-response surface to the data and visual indications of the intensity of drug interaction. The universal response surface approach is mathematically consistent with the traditional isobologram approach but is more objective, is more quantitative, and is more easily automated. Although specifically developed for in vitro cancer chemotherapy applications, the universal response surface approach should prove to be useful in the fields of pharmacology, toxicology, epidemiology, and biomedical science in general.

5-Ethynyluracil (776C85): modulation of 5-fluorouracil efficacy and therapeutic index in rats bearing advanced colorectal carcinoma.

5-Ethynyluracil (EU; 776C85) is a potent inactivator of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase, the enzyme that rapidly degrades 5-fluorouracil (FUra). We have investigated the antitumor activity and toxicity of FUra alone and in combination with EU in rats bearing advanced colon carcinoma. Two schedules were studied: (a) FUra daily for 4 days i.v. push (daily x 4); and (b) FUra administered i.v. push weekly for 3 weeks (weekly x 3). EU was administered at 1 mg/kg 1 h before FUra and for two additional days post-FUra therapy. The maximum tolerated doses of FUra alone were 35 and 100 mg/kg/day and for FUra plus EU were 10 and 15 mg/kg/day for the daily x 4 and weekly x 3 schedules, respectively. The dose-limiting toxicities were diarrhea and stomatitis both for FUra alone and for FUra in combination with EU. Although EU was not toxic and not active as an antitumor agent, it markedly improved the efficacy and therapeutic index of FUra. The antitumor activity of FUra was schedule dependent, yielding 13% complete and sustained tumor regression on the weekly schedule and no complete and sustained tumor regression on the daily schedule. The combination of FUra and EU produced 100% complete and sustained tumor regression on both schedules. The therapeutic index was < or = 1 for FUra alone and 6 for FUra with EU. EU was considerably more effective than either leucovorin or N-(phosphonacetyl)-L-aspartate as a modulator of FUra. Leucovorin or N-(phosphonacetyl)-L-aspartate induced minimum improvements on the daily schedule and only increased the therapeutic index to 1.5 on the weekly schedule. Because a 4-day continuous infusion of FUra alone at the maximum tolerated dose did not improve FUra therapy, we conclude that the improvements by EU involve additional modulations that complement the enhanced exposure of FUra.

Mechanisms of the in vivo resistance to adriamycin and modulation by calcium channel blockers in mice.

A sensitive fluorometric assay using Hoechst 33258 and a modified alkaline elution procedure were used to quantitate DNA single-strand breaks following an in vivo drug treatment of mice bearing P-388/S and P-388/R cells. After an i.p. treatment of mice with 1 to 20 mg/kg Adriamycin (DOX), the following differences between sensitive and resistant P-388 cells were observed: (a) at 2 h following drug treatment the net intracellular accumulation of Adriamycin in sensitive cells was 2- to 3-fold higher than resistant cells at all doses tested; (b) utilizing a therapeutic dose of DOX (10 mg/kg), the amount of single-strand breaks of DNA in sensitive and resistant cells was significantly different, K x 10(2) = 13.6 +/- 1.1 (SD) versus 3.6 +/- 0.9, respectively; (c) the 10 and 50% lethal doses for verapamil (VEP) were 10 and 23 mg/kg and for a tiapamil analogue, N-(3,4-dimethoxyphenethyl)-N-methyl-2-(2-naphthyl)-m-dithiane-2-propylam ine hydrochloride (DMDP), were 107 and 126 mg/kg, respectively; (d) while the in vivo intracellular accumulation and retention of DOX in sensitive cells were not affected by DMDP or VEP treatment, complete restoration of DOX accumulation and retention was achieved in resistant cells treated with well-tolerated doses of DMDP of 30 and 60 mg/kg. In contrast, utilizing the optimally tolerated dose of VEP (5 mg/kg), only partial restoration of DOX accumulation and retention in resistant cells was achieved; (e) DMDP or VEP did not alter the high level of DNA single-strand breaks induced by DOX in sensitive cells; in resistant cells, however, an increase in single-strand breaks of DNA was observed following treatment with DOX in combination with DMDP and to a lesser extent with VEP; and (f) the rapid DNA repair in resistant cells was inhibited by DMDP but not by VEP. These data demonstrate that DMDP but not VEP can effectively restore the in vivo intracellular accumulation of DOX in resistant cells at achievable nontoxic plasma concentrations. Previous studies have demonstrated that the in vitro intracellular concentrations and retention of DOX by resistant cells can be restored by VEP. The results reported herein demonstrated that similar effects can be achieved, however, in vivo by using a new calcium channel blocker, DMDP, with less in vivo toxicity and more efficacy than VEP in restoring cellular drug concentration, retention, and repair of DNA damage in the resistant cells.

Interleukin 15 protects against toxicity and potentiates antitumor activity of 5-fluorouracil alone and in combination with leucovorin in rats bearing colorectal cancer.

5-Fluorouracil (FUra) modulated by leucovorin (LV) is active in the treatment of colorectal cancer. Diarrhea and stomatitis are the most common dose-limiting toxicities. We have developed a model system in rats bearing a transplantable colon carcinoma sensitive to FUra therapy with dose-limiting toxicity profiles similar to what is observed in patients treated with either daily or weekly schedules of FUra plus LV. Interleukin 15 (IL-15), a cytokine that shares many biological activities with IL-2, was used at different doses (25, 100, and 400 microg/kg) and schedules (three doses before a single dose of FUra, FUra/LV daily x 5, or before each week of FUra/LV weekly x 4, or three doses before a single dose of FUra or FUra/LV daily x 5, then twice daily x 5 for a total of 11 doses) to evaluate its role in the modulation of the therapeutic selectivity of FUra alone and modulated by LV. IL-15 induced a dramatic decrease in chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal toxicities, significant potentiation of antitumor activity, and an increased therapeutic index of FUra administered on single dose, daily x 5 and weekly x 4 schedules. In contrast, IL-2 (400 microg/kg) significantly potentiated the toxicity of FUra administered as a single i.v. push, with minimal potentiation of the antitumor activity. Taken together, the results clearly demonstrated the ability of IL-15, but not IL-2, to provide significant improvement of the therapeutic index of FUra alone and in combination with LV. The clinical relevance of the results obtained in this model system needs to be confirmed.

Topoisomerase II-mediated DNA damage of episomes in tumor-bearing mice.

Observations of cells in culture have demonstrated that, for many antitumor agents, topoisomerase II-mediated DNA damage relates to cytotoxicity. However, there is no evidence in tumor-bearing animals to suggest that such agents induce topoisomerase II-mediated damage of DNA in solid tumors or that such damage reflects inhibition of tumor growth. To address this question, a mouse fibroblast cell line neoplastically transformed by an episomal element containing the v-Ha-ras and bovine papillomavirus genes was utilized to measure topoisomerase II-induced DNA damage and growth inhibition of solid tumors derived from this line. Using the topoisomerase II inhibitor amsacrine, the episomal element was found to be a sensitive indicator of topoisomerase II-mediated damage in vivo. The DNA breaks induced by single i.v. injections of amsacrine were protein linked and occurred preferentially in episomal regulatory regions. A strong correlation between suppression of tumor growth and topoisomerase II-mediated damage of the episome was demonstrated.

Modulation of 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine metabolism by thymidine in human acute leukemia.

Twenty-seven patients with acute leukemia have been treated by sequential 6-day courses of thymidine (30 g/m2 by i.v. continuous infusion, days 1 and 4) and 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C) (200 mg/m2 by i.v. continuous infusion, days 2,3,5, and 6). Of 25 evaluable patients 4 achieved a complete remission: one of 9 for acute myelogenous leukemia; and 3 of 14 in the blastic crisis of chronic myelocytic leukemia. Six minor responses were also observed. Toxicity was mainly hematological and did not appear to be higher than that expected from ara-C alone. However, thymidine infusions gave rise to headache and somnolence. The clinical benefit of such treatment seems to be limited to the blastic crisis of chronic myelocytic leukemia. Parallel cytokinetic and biochemical studies were performed in order to assess the cytokinetic and metabolic changes induced by both drugs and to correlate them with the clinical response. Recruitment of cells into the S-phase fraction was observed following the first thymidine infusion in the two complete responders and in three of the five nonresponders studied. In contrast to this high pretherapeutic levels of S-phase fraction were observed in most minor responders and in some nonresponders with further decrease following the thymidine infusion. Recruitment of cells into S phase therefore appeared to be an important but not sufficient factor for prediction of complete response to ara-C. Responders in contrast to most nonresponders were characterized by a higher intracellular level of ara-C and its metabolites following the first 24-h infusion of the drug. Deoxythymidine triphosphate and deoxycytidine triphosphate pools were also measured before and during treatment in order to assess if nucleotide pool variations induced by the administration of thymidine can in fact correlate with the intracellular alteration in ara-C metabolism and with clinical response. The level of deoxycytidine triphosphate pools before treatment showed marked interpatient variations but did not correlate with response. As expected, thymidine infusion induced a rise in the deoxythymidine triphosphate pool and a decrease in deoxycytidine triphosphate. The pools, however, generally returned promptly to the pretherapeutic level 24 h after the end of the infusion of thymidine. There were no significant differences between responders and nonresponders in the modulation of these pools.

Interleukin 15 offers selective protection from irinotecan-induced intestinal toxicity in a preclinical animal model.

Irinotecan (CPT-11) is a chemotherapeutic agent that is active in the treatment of a variety of solid tumor malignancies. Diarrhea represents the most common dose-limiting toxicity that is independent of the schedule of administration. A rat model with dose-limiting toxicity profiles that are similar to those observed in patients treated with CPT-11 was developed and used to evaluate the role of interleukin 15 (IL-15) in the modulation of the therapeutic selectivity of CPT-11 in normal rats and rats bearing advanced colorectal cancer. The maximum tolerated dose and lethal dose (LD) of CPT-11 by i.v. push daily x 3 were 150 and 200 mg/kg/day, respectively. CPT-11 at the LD induced a 93-100% incidence of severe diarrhea and an 86-100% incidence of lethality in treated animals. IL-15, a cytokine with multiple mechanisms of action, was used at a 100 or 400 microg/kg/dose with different schedules of administration (3, 8, and 11 doses, i.p.) to protect against CPT-11-induced toxicity. IL-15 offered complete and sustained selective protection against CPT-11-induced delayed diarrhea and lethality. IL-15 also moderately potentiated the antitumor activity of CPT-11 in rats bearing advanced colorectal cancer. Morphological examination of rat intestinal tissues after treatment with LD of CPT-11 revealed dramatic protection of duodenal and colonic tissue architecture by IL-15. CPT-11 alone produced serious damage to duodenal villi and colonic crypts. The results clearly demonstrated the ability of IL-15 to provide significant protection from CPT-11-induced intestinal toxicity with maintenance of antitumor activity, resulting in an increase in the therapeutic index of CPT-11. The clinical relevance of the results obtained in this model system needs to be confirmed.

DNA damage and p53 induction do not cause ZD1694-induced cell cycle arrest in human colon carcinoma cells.

Using four complementary approaches, ie., cell synchronization, bromodeoxyuridine labeling, and DNA and Western blot analyses, we investigated the underlying mechanism of cell cycle perturbation in response to ZD1694, a quinazoline-based antifolate thymidylate synthase inhibitor. With a single exposure at a concentration of 1 microM for 2 h, ZD1694 completely inhibits thymidylate synthase over 72 h and causes a sustained growth for at least 120 h, DNA damage, and p53 induction in human carcinoma cells. Although these cells displayed an S-phase block with the precise terminal arrest point depending on the timing of drug treatment in the cell cycle, their DNA-replicating machinery associated with polymerase alpha was preserved intact. When supplemented with exogenous dThd, these cells resumed an apparently normal S-phase progression for at least 4 h. Kinetic analyses based on synchronized cells indicate that S-phase arrest occurs first, preceding the induction of DNA double strand breaks and p53/p21. SW480 cells, in which p53mu failed to transduce p21, also exhibited the mode of S-phase arrest, essentially indistinguishable from that displayed by HCT-8 cells expressing the functional p53 (p53wt). That the DNA replication process is prerequisite for DNA double strand breaks was indicated by the following: (a) DNA damage occurred only when cells treated with ZD1694 progressed through S phase; and (b) the inhibition of DNA polymerase alpha by aphidicolin-blocked DNA damage. Based on the above, we conclude that S-phase arrest by ZD1694, with a subsequent damage of DNA double strands, is caused by the block of DNA synthesis in the middle of replication due to dTTP depletion and not by p53-mediated G1-G2 checkpoint mechanisms or p21-induced inactivation of the DNA-replicating machinery.

Separation of leukemic cells into proliferative and quiescent subpopulations by centrifugal elutriation.

Centrifugal elutriation was used to separate human acute leukemia cells into proliferative and quiescent subpopulations. Ten bone marrow specimens and 5 peripheral blood specimens were subjected to centrifugal elutriations. From each patient, leukemic cell subpopulations were obtained for which the [3H]thymidine labeling index differed by 10- to 30-fold. In 6 of the marrow specimens and in 2 of the peripheral blood specimens, cell subpopulations were obtained for which the labeling index exceeded 20%. In 5 marrow specimens, subpopulations were obtained for which the labeling index exceeded 40%. Preliminary studies of the uptake of 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine and 5-azacytidine failed to show any correlation between drug uptake and the proliferative characteristics of the leukemic subpopulations.