title: Induction of apoptosis of human B-CLL and ALL cells by a novel retinoid and its nonretinoidal analog.
abstract: We have recently described a novel retinoid 6-[3-(1-adamantyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl]-2-naphthalenecarboxylic acid (CD437/AHPN) that induces apoptosis in a number of malignant cell types. We now describe our studies examining the effects of CD437 and a nonretinoidal analog (MM002) on the in vitro proliferation of the ALL-REH cell line, the in vitro and in vivo growth of a novel Epstein-Barr virus-negative (EBV(-)) B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) cell line (WSU-CLL), and primary cultures of human B-CLL and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells. CD437 and MM002 induce apoptosis in both cell lines, as indicated by the activation of caspase-2 and caspase-3, cleavage of poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) (poly(ADP-ribose)) polymerase, increase in annexin V binding, and subsequent nuclear fragmentation. CD437-mediated apoptosis was not associated with the modulation of Bcl-2, Bax, or Mcl-1 levels, but was associated with the cleavage of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-X(L) to a proapoptotic 18-kD form. This cleavage of Bcl-X(L) was dependent on caspase-3 activation since Bcl-X(L) cleavage and apoptosis were inhibited by the caspase-3 inhibitor Z-DVED-fmk. CD437 markedly inhibited the growth of WSU-CLL cells in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice. Tumor growth inhibition, growth delay, and log cell kill were 85.7%, 21 days, and 2.1, respectively, in the treated mice. Moreover, 1 of the 5 treated mice was tumor-free longer than 150 days and thus was considered cured. Exposure of primary cultures of both B-CLL and ALL cells obtained from patients to CD437 and MM002 resulted in their apoptosis. These results suggest that CD437 and MM002 analogs may have a potential role in the treatment of B-CLL and ALL.
mesh_terms: D000107:Acetylation; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004952:Esters; D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007700:Kinetics; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000473:pathology*; D012176:Retinoids / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C099555:CD 437; D004952:Esters; D012176:Retinoids