Selective toxicity of 1-naphthol to human colorectal tumour tissue.
1-Naphthol was selectively toxic to human colorectal tumours compared to corresponding normal colonic tissue removed at surgery and maintained in short-term organ culture. Nineteen of 24 tumours studied have shown a significant differential response. Three human colonic adenocarcinoma xenografts, in the short-term organ culture system, displayed the same response to 1-naphthol as primary tumours removed at surgery. 1-Naphthol, 1,2- and 1,4-naphthoquinone were also toxic to two human colonic adenocarcinoma cell lines, LoVo and COLO 206. The selective toxicity of 1-naphthol is mediated in part through an accumulation of 1-naphthol in the tumour tissue due to impaired conjugation by the tumour. The higher concentrations of 1-naphthol may then exert their toxicity either directly or by formation of naphthoquinones. Some indirect evidence was obtained for the possible involvement of 1,2- or 1,4-naphthoquinone in the cytotoxicity of 1-naphthol. Our studies suggest that further studies are warranted of the possible use of 1-naphthol or related compounds as antitumour agents.
D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009284:Naphthols / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009285:Naphthoquinones / Q000494:pharmacology; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
D009284:Naphthols; D009285:Naphthoquinones; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; C029350:1-naphthol