[Specific curative effects of nitrosourea drugs on tumor cells with Mer--phenotype in Chinese]

Zhongguo Yao Li Xue Bao. 1993 Nov;14(6):568-71.
[Article in Chinese]

Abstract

O6-Methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (O6-MT) activity and cellular sensitivity to nitrosourea drugs of 10 kinds of tumor cell strains derived from Chinese patients were measured by 3H radioactivity and colony-forming ability, respectively. The results in vitro showed that nimustine (Nim) 25 micrograms.ml-1 and carmustine (Car) 20 micrograms.ml-1 exhibited specific killing effects on Mer-phenotype tumor cells characterized by low O6-MT activity. In vivo both Nim and Car (25 mg.kg-1.wk-1 x 4 wk, ip) had specific curative ability to Mer- tumor cells implanted in nude mice. These findings suggested that assay of O6- MT activity in tumor biopsy could be used as a predictable guide to human tumor chemotherapy with nitrosourea compounds.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carmustine / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Liver Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology
  • Methyltransferases / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Nimustine / therapeutic use*
  • O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase
  • Phenotype
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured / drug effects
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured / metabolism
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • Nimustine
  • Methyltransferases
  • O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase
  • Carmustine