title: Median effect and long term recovery analysis of biological modifier interactions with difluoromethylornithine on the proliferation of human melanoma cells.
abstract: The ability of difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), a specific polyamine synthesis inhibitor, to interact with various biological modifiers to inhibit the colony-forming growth of human melanoma cells was determined by using the median effect principle to computer model the strength of two agent interactions. Either alpha- or gamma-IFN (interferon) in combination with DFMO resulted in a synergistic inhibition on human melanoma colony formation. For human melanoma cells which were not resistant to 13-cis RA (retinoic acid), an additive suppression on colony formation was obtained with the retinoid-DFMO combination. Dexamethasone (DEX) interacted with DFMO to yield a synergistic reduction in melanoma colony number on glucocorticoid sensitive cells and no growth enhancement with DFMO on glucocorticoid resistant melanoma lines. Human melanoma cells displayed differential long-term growth sensitivity to DFMO treatment. C8146C human melanoma cells were terminally growth-inhibited by a 96 h exposure to DFMO, in a manner which was concentration and time dependent. The proliferation of C82-7A melanoma cells was inhibited by 95% in presence of DFMO, but upon removal of DFMO the cells regained their ability to proliferate and form colonies. The simultaneous addition of DEX plus alpha-IFN plus 13-cis-RA with DFMO caused most of the human melanoma cells in these lines to become permanently growth arrested. Pre-treatment with DEX plus alpha-IFN plus 13-cis RA, but without DFMO, did not have any long term effect on the ability of melanoma cells to recover and proliferate in soft agar.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson 85724.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Bregman
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buckmeier
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Funk
authors.forename: F L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Meyskens
mesh_terms: D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D046508:Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000518:Eflornithine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014212:Tretinoin; D003907:Dexamethasone; D000518:Eflornithine