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.
Department of Surgical Oncology, University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030.
A
A
Munkarah
L
L
Chuang
E
E
Lotzová
K
K
Cook
M
M
Morris
J T
JT
Wharton
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