Irinotecan side effects relieved by the use of HI-6 oxime: in vivo experimental approach

Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2009 Dec;105(6):401-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1742-7843.2009.00460.x. Epub 2009 Aug 5.

Abstract

Some compounds, although not primarily designed as supportive drugs in chemotherapy, are promising candidates for clinical use. The ability of HI-6 oxime to relieve the side effects of irinotecan was recently determined in vitro. In this animal study, we investigated the efficacy of HI-6 in vivo, when given as a pre-treatment and concomitantly with irinotecan. We evaluated the cholinesterase (ChE)/acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, the levels of oxidative stress markers, DNA damage and the radical scavenging capacity of HI-6. Both HI-6 and irinotecan inhibited ChE/AChE activity but showed different levels of ChE inhibition in plasma and AChE inhibition in the liver and brain tissue. We also observed a weak antioxidant capacity of HI-6, undiscovered until now, and found an acceptable genotoxicity profile in three types of somatic cells in rats. The in vivo erythrocyte micronucleus assay showed that HI-6 did not significantly change either the frequency of micronuclei or the ratio of polychromatic and normorchromatic erythrocytes. Taken together, our results provide a good argument in favour of HI-6 as a promising molecule for further studies and eventual use in humans.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / toxicity*
  • Biomarkers
  • Brain / drug effects
  • Brain / enzymology
  • Camptothecin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Camptothecin / toxicity
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / toxicity*
  • Cholinesterase Reactivators / pharmacology*
  • Cholinesterases / blood
  • Cholinesterases / metabolism
  • DNA Damage / drug effects
  • Drug Interactions
  • Erythrocytes / drug effects
  • Free Radical Scavengers / metabolism
  • Irinotecan
  • Leukocytes / drug effects
  • Lipid Peroxidation / drug effects
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / enzymology
  • Male
  • Mutagenicity Tests / methods
  • Oximes / pharmacology*
  • Pyridinium Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Random Allocation
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Biomarkers
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors
  • Cholinesterase Reactivators
  • Free Radical Scavengers
  • Oximes
  • Pyridinium Compounds
  • Irinotecan
  • Cholinesterases
  • asoxime chloride
  • Camptothecin