Selective cancer cell cytotoxicity from exposure to dihydroartemisinin and holotransferrin.
Rapid cell death, as evidenced by a decrease in cell counts, was observed when molt-4-lymphoblastoid cells, a human leukemia cell line, were exposed to holotransferrin (12 microM) and dihydroartemisinin (1-200 microM). Incubation with either compound alone was significantly less effective. Significantly less cell death was observed when normal human lymphocytes were exposed to a combination of these 2 drugs. Probit analysis of dose-response functions shows that the drug combination is approximately 100 times more effective on molt-4 cells than lymphocytes (LD50s for molt-4 and lymphocytes were 2.59 microM and 230 microM, respectively). This drug combination may provide a novel approach for cancer treatment.
Lai
H
H
Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
Singh
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D037621:Artemisinins; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D013997:Time Factors; D014168:Transferrin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D037621:Artemisinins; D004338:Drug Combinations; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D014168:Transferrin; C110714:holotransferrin; C039060:artenimol