Comparative studies of taxol and taxotere on tumor growth and lymphocyte functions.
Taxotere, a semisynthetic derivative similar to taxol, has shown promising results in vitro and in preliminary in vivo studies. We have previously reported that taxol at 10 micrograms/ml suppressed the cytotoxic function and activation of natural killer cells and major histocompatibility nonrestricted (MHC-NR) T cells against the ovarian cell line OV-2774 and the erythroleukemia cell line K-562. In this paper, we investigated the effect of taxotere on lymphocyte function and found that a suppression of MHC-NR cytotoxicity of naive lymphocytes is only seen at higher doses of taxotere (50 micrograms/ml). At the concentrations of 10 and 50 micrograms/ml, taxotere did not have any effect on the cytotoxic function of IL-2-preactivated lymphocytes. On the contrary, both taxol and taxotere caused a significant suppression of lymphocyte growth and activation with IL-2 at 10 and 50 micrograms/ml. Both drugs (at the concentration of 10 micrograms/ml) were potent inhibitors of the growth of the tumor cell lines OV-2774 and K-562. In conclusion, despite the fact that taxotere shares with taxol a potent antitumor effect, it seems to be less suppressive for lymphocyte cytotoxicity, an effect clearly desirable in cancer therapy.
Munkarah
A
A
Department of Surgical Oncology, University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030.
Chuang
L
L
Lotzová
E
E
Cook
K
K
Morris
M
M
Wharton
J T
JT
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000592:standards; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D004915:Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute / Q000473:pathology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000592:standards; D043823:Taxoids; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D017239:Paclitaxel