title: Microtubule stabilization and potentiation of taxol activity by the creatine analog cyclocreatine.
abstract: Creatine kinase (CK), a key enzyme of cellular energetics, has been implicated in tumorigenesis. Cyclocreatine (CCr), which forms a stable phosphagen with a reduced rate of ATP regeneration through CK, inhibits the growth of many solid tumors. We report that CCr induces the formation of unusually stable microtubules that resist depolymerization by nocodazole. By reducing ATP availability, CCr may modulate the activity of kinases that regulate microtubule dynamics. Further, combinations of CCr and taxol resulted in the synergistic killing of breast tumor cells indicating that CCr may be a useful addition to chemotherapy's that include taxanes.
authors.affiliation: Amira Inc., Repligen Corp., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Vassallo
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Teicher
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kaddurah-Daouk
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003114:Colony-Forming Units Assay; D003404:Creatinine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D008870:Microtubules / Q000187:drug effects*; D015739:Nocodazole / Q000494:pharmacology; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C012260:cyclocreatine; D003404:Creatinine; D017239:Paclitaxel; D015739:Nocodazole