title: In vitro evaluation of fotemustine as a potential agent for limb perfusion in melanoma.
abstract: The mechanism of action of fotemustine, a relatively new chloroethylnitrosourea, was evaluated in human melanoma cells in order to assess its potential as an agent for hyperthermic limb perfusion. Fotemustine was more toxic to O6-alkylguanine methyl transferase (AGT) deficient (Mer-) cells than Mer+ cells, implicating AGT as a major determinant of resistance. Mer+ cells derived from Mer- cell lines following exposure to the monofunctional alkylating metabolite of dacarbazine (DTIC) were also resistant to fotemustine. Mer status did not influence the replication of fotemustine-damaged adenovirus 5, whereas virus treated with the monofunctional alkylating agent N-methyl-N1-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) was replicated much more efficiently by Mer+ cells. This suggests that the initial O6-alkylated product, if not immediately repaired, rearranges to form DNA crosslinks which cannot be repaired by AGT. Replication of a control virus was not affected by treating the cells with fotemustine, indicating that the drug acted primarily on DNA rather than at epigenetic levels. Fotemustine generally produced a G2-M block in the cell cycle, most strikingly in Mer- cells at low, minimally toxic concentrations; MNNG and high doses of fotemustine induced S phase arrest. Concurrent hyperthermia (41.5 degrees C for 1 h) increased the toxicity of fotemustine in some cell lines. Fotemustine decomposed in culture medium in two phases; the first was complete within 5 min and was most marked in Mer+ cells. The results suggest that fotemustine may be suitable for isolated limb perfusion in melanoma, with the potential for overcoming resistance by including inhibitors of AGT.
authors.affiliation: Queensland Cancer Fund Laboratories, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Herston, Australia.
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bartley
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Parsons
mesh_terms: D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000502:physiology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000187:drug effects; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008769:Methylnitronitrosoguanidine / Q000633:toxicity; D009607:Nitrosourea Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D019853:O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D010477:Perfusion; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002273:Carcinogens; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D009607:Nitrosourea Compounds; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D008769:Methylnitronitrosoguanidine; D019853:O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase; C054368:fotemustine