Divergent effects of taxol on tumor necrosis factor-alpha-mediated cytolysis of ovarian carcinoma cells.
OBJECTIVE
Our objective was to study the combined effect of taxol and tumor necrosis factor-alpha on the cytolysis of human ovarian carcinoma cell lines, because taxol has been shown to be active against ovarian carcinoma and has also been shown to increase tumor necrosis factor-alpha release from macrophages.


METHODS
The combined effect of taxol and tumor necrosis factor-alpha on the cell lines Caov-3, SK-OV-3, NIH:OVCAR-3, and A2780, which are sensitive to the cytolytic effect of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the presence of inhibitors of protein synthesis, was investigated with a 24-hour chromium 51 release assay.


RESULTS
At therapeutic concentrations taxol caused a significant increase in tumor necrosis factor-alpha-mediated cytolysis of Caov-3 and A2780 (p < or = 0.05). By contrast, taxol caused a decrease in the tumor necrosis factor-alpha-mediated cytolysis of SK-OV-3 and NIH:OVCAR-3 (p < or = 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that ovarian carcinomas have a heterogeneous response to the chemotherapeutic effect of taxol.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110.
S
S
Williams
D G
DG
Mutch
L
L
Xu
J L
JL
Collins
D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004640:Emetine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*
D003603:Cytotoxins; D011506:Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D017239:Paclitaxel; D004640:Emetine