title: DNA repair enzymes and cytotoxic effects of temozolomide: comparative studies between tumor cells and normal cells of the immune system.
abstract: O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (OGAT) and the mismatch repair system (MRS) play a crucial role in the susceptibility of tumor cells to the cytotoxic effects of agents that generate O6-methylguanine in DNA, including the triazene compound temozolomide (TMZ). Studies performed with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC) showed that TMZ was scarcely active on lymphocyte functions not dependent on cell proliferation (e.g. NK activity and cytokine-mediated induction of CD1b molecule in adherent MNC). In contrast, TMZ depressed proliferation and lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cell generation in response to IL-2. In this case, a reasonably good inverse relationship was found between OGAT levels of MNC and their susceptibility to TMZ. This study also analyzed the ratio of the toxic effect of TMZ on MNC and on tumor cells (i.e. "Tumor-Immune Function Toxicity Index", TIFTI). A particularly favorable TIFTI can be obtained when OGAT levels are extremely high in MNC and markedly low in tumor cells. This holds true for MRS-proficient neoplastic cells, but not for MRS-deficient tumors. In conclusion, strategies aimed at modulating OGAT and MRS may improve the clinical response to TMZ. However, the use of OGAT inhibitors to potentiate the antitumor activity of TMZ might result in a concomitant increase of the immunosuppressive effects of the drug, thus reducing the relative TIFTI.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata (IDI-IRCCS), Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pagani
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pepponi
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Fuggetta
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Prete
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Turriziani
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bonmassar
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Lacal
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Falcinelli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Passarelli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guadagni
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alvino
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: D'Atri
mesh_terms: D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002051:Burkitt Lymphoma / Q000473:pathology; D002455:Cell Division; D004249:DNA Damage; D004260:DNA Repair; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D015979:Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated; D004915:Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute / Q000473:pathology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology; D019853:O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D000077204:Temozolomide; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D007376:Interleukin-2; D003606:Dacarbazine; D019853:O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase; D000077204:Temozolomide