title: Suramin inhibits growth and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) binding in osteosarcoma cell lines.
abstract: Autocrine production of growth factors has been shown to be involved in the multistep process of tumorigenesis. The ability of suramin, a polyanionic anti-parasitic drug, to block growth factor-induced cell proliferation makes it a potential antineoplastic drug. We studied the effects of suramin on seven osteosarcoma cell lines. Using clinically achievable concentrations of suramin (50-400 micrograms/ml), we found a time- and dose-dependent inhibition of [3H]thymidine incorporation. We also showed that suramin is able, dose-dependently, to prevent binding of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta 1 to its receptors. DNA synthesis inhibition by suramin was attenuated by TGF-beta 1 in some cell lines. Two cell lines that were inhibited by TGF-beta 1 were affected similarly by suramin as cell lines that were stimulated by TGF-beta 1. In conclusion, in five out of seven osteosarcoma cell lines, we showed a correlation between inhibition of growth factor-stimulated mitogenesis and binding of TGF-beta 1 to its receptor. Similar effects in TGF-beta 1-inhibited osteosarcoma cell lines suggest involvement of other mechanisms and/or growth factors. However, suramin proves to be a potent inhibitor of osteosarcoma cell proliferation in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02114.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kloen
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Jennings
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Gebhardt
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Springfield
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Mankin
mesh_terms: D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D013498:Suramin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D013498:Suramin