CPT-11 in human colon-cancer cell lines and xenografts: characterization of cellular sensitivity determinants.
CPT-11, a new semisynthetic derivative of camptothecin, is active in a number of tumor types in the clinic, including colon cancer. CPT-11 is a drug that is converted into the active metabolite SN-38 by a carboxylesterase. Experiments were performed to obtain more insight in the cellular characteristics in 5 unselected human colon-cancer cell lines that account for the differential sensitivity to CPT-11 and SN-38. In vitro, the sensitivity to CPT-11 and SN-38 was highest in LS174T and COLO 320 cells, intermediate in SW1398 cells and lowest in COLO 205 and WiDr cells. SN-38 was 130 to 570 times more active than CPT-11. CPT-11 induced complete remissions in 6 out of 12 COLO 320 tumors grown as subcutaneous xenografts, but was not effective in WiDr tumors. The cellular carboxylesterase activity did not relate to the sensitivity to CPT-11. The enzyme activity was higher in normal mouse tissues, i.e., serum and liver, than in COLO 320 or WiDr xenografts, indicating that tumor carboxylesterase is of minor importance for CPT-11 efficacy. The topoisomerase-1 mRNA expression in tumor cells was not predictive of the antiproliferative effects of CPT-11 or SN-38. We observed a positive relationship between the DNA topoisomerase-1 activity and the cellular sensitivity to carboxylesterase-activated CPT-11 (r = 0.75, p < 0.1) as well as to SN-38 (r = 0.89, p < 0.05). The higher topoisomerase-1 activity in COLO 320 cells and tumors when compared with that in WiDr cells and tumors reflected the differences in sensitivity to the drug(s). In conclusion, the DNA topoisomerase-1 activity was the best determinant for CPT-11/SN-38 sensitivity in this panel of unselected human colon-cancer cell lines.
Jansen
W J
WJ
Department of Medical Oncology, Academic Hospital Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Zwart
B
B
Hulscher
S T
ST
Giaccone
G
G
Pinedo
H M
HM
Boven
E
E
D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D043182:Carboxylesterase; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*; D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I / Q000378:metabolism*; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases; D043182:Carboxylesterase; D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I; D002166:Camptothecin