Factors that influence the therapeutic activity of 5-fluorouracil [6RS]leucovorin combinations in colon adenocarcinoma xenografts.
The therapeutic activity of FUra alone or combined with [6RS]LV doses ranging from 50 to 1,000 mg/m2 was examined in eight colon adenocarcinoma xenografts, of which five were established from adult neoplasms (HxELC2, HxGC3, HxVRC5, HxHC1, and HxGC3/c1TK-c3 selected for TK deficiency) and three were derived from adolescent tumors (HxSJC3A, HxSJC3B, and HxSJC2). The growth-inhibitory effects of FUra were potentiated by higher doses of [6RS]LV (500-1,000 mg/m2) in three lines (HxGC3/c1TK-c3, HxSJC3A, and HxSJC3B) and by a low dose of [6RS]LV in only one tumor (HxVRC5). Expansion of pools of CH2-H4PteGlun+H4PteGlun (greater than or equal to 2.4-fold) in response to higher doses of [6RS]LV was obtained in all lines except HxHC1. Metabolism of [6RS]LV was high in HxVRC5, with high levels of 5-CH3-H4PteGlu being detected, but not in HxHC1, in which levels of 5-CH3-H4PteGlu and CH = H4PteGlu+10-CHO-H4PteGlu remained relatively low. In the adolescent tumors, levels of CH = H4PteGlu+10-CHO-H4PteGlu were consistently higher than those of 5-CH3-H4PteGlu following [6RS]LV administration, and in HxSJC3A, in which pools of CH2-H4PteGlun+H4PteGlun were significantly expanded, 5-CH3-H4PteGlu concentrations were lower than those observed in the other two lines. The sensitivity of tumors to FUra +/- [6RS]LV and the characteristics of [6S]LV metabolism did not correlate with the activity of CH = H4PteGlu synthetase, the enzyme responsible for the initial cellular metabolism of [6S]LV to CH = H4PteGlu. Thus, no single metabolic phenotype correlated with the [6RS]LV-induced expansion of CH2-H4PteGlun+H4PteGlun pools. Potentiation of the therapeutic efficacy of FUra by [6RS]LV was observed in HxGC3/c1TK-c3 xenografts but not in parent HxGC3 tumors, demonstrating the influence of dThd salvage capability in the response to FUra-[6RS]LV combinations. Plasma dThd concentrations in CBA/CaJ mice were high (1.1 microM). The present data therefore demonstrate the importance of (1) higher doses of [6RS]LV, (2) expansion of pools of CH2-H4PteGlun+H4PteGlun, and (3) dThd salvage capability in potentiation of the therapeutic efficacy of FUra in colon adenocarcinoma xenografts. The plasma levels of FUra achieved in mice are presented.
Houghton
J A
JA
Department of Biochemical and Clinical Pharmacology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38101.
Williams
L G
LG
Loftin
S K
SK
Cheshire
P J
PJ
Morton
C L
CL
Houghton
P J
PJ
Dayan
A
A
Jolivet
J
J
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000818:Animals; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D013763:Tetrahydrofolates / Q000032:analysis
D013763:Tetrahydrofolates; C010161:10-formyltetrahydropteroylglutamic acid; C018092:5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate; D002955:Leucovorin; C005984:5-methyltetrahydrofolate; D005472:Fluorouracil