title: N-methylformamide as a potential therapeutic approach in colon cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The effect of N-methylformamide, used in combination with the antineoplastic drugs adriamycin and cisplatin, on the cell survival of a colon carcinoma cell line (HT-29) was investigated. To better understand the mechanism involved in N-methylformamide-mediated chemosensitization, we evaluated the N-methylformamide effect on cell volume and surface expression of some integrins molecules (VLA2, VLA5, and VLA6) of the HT-29 cell line.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cell survival was evaluated by clonogenic assay; integrins surface expression was analyzed by means of flow cytometry; cell volumes were determined using a Coulter Channalyzer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A Noncytotoxic dose of N-methylformamide (170 mM) sensitizes the HT-29 cell line to the lethal activity of both adriamycin and cisplatin. The analysis of cell volume showed that N-methylformamide exposure induces an increase in cell volume. Flow cytometric analysis of VLA2, VLA5, and VLA6 receptors showed that N-methylformamide increases the expression of the three integrins by 30 to 40 percent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The plasma membrane could constitute one of the N-methylformamide targets and might be involved in the differentiation and chemosensitizing effects caused by this agent. Moreover, N-methylformamide could improve colon cancer treatment when used in combination with antineoplastic drugs.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Chemotherapy, Regina Elena Institute for Cancer Research, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Del Bufalo
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bucci
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: D'Agnano
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zupi
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002470:Cell Survival; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005559:Formamides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D016023:Integrins / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D005559:Formamides; D016023:Integrins; D004317:Doxorubicin; D002945:Cisplatin; C002950:methylformamide