Effects of N-acylethanolamines and various antimitotic agents on apoptotic DNA fragmentation in conventionally normal and tumor tissue of human adrenals.
OBJECTIVE
To study effects of N-acylethanolamines (NAE) and various antimitotic agents: taxol, colchicine, and cytochalasin B on the DNA fragmentation extent in conventionally normal (CNT) and tumor tissue of human adrenal cortex.


METHODS
Six types of adrenal tumor tissue of 84 patients were analyzed. Slices of tissue was incubated at 37 degrees C for 3 h in the presence of NAEs and antimitotics, DNA was extracted and analysed in agarose gel.


RESULTS
It was established that NAEs enhanced apoptosis in conventionally normal and tumor tissue of adrenal glands. In general, tumor tissue was more sensitive to NAEs and antimitotic compounds than conventionally normal tissue. NAEs in combination with colchicine and cytochalasin B enhanced DNA fragmentation in some types of tumor tissue and did not influence, or even reduced it in CNT. Taxol revealed selective action depending on tumor tissue type. Considerable individual differences were reported in sensitiveness of different types of tumors to the NAEs and antimitotic agents.


CONCLUSIONS
Taxol and combination of NAEs with colchicine and cytochalasin B are inductors of apoptosis in the adrenal tumor cells and thus promising for further investigation.
Kostyuchenko
N
N
Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, AMS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine. endo@i.kiev.ua
Pushkarev
V
V
Kashevarov
G
G
Tronko
M
M
Komisarenko
I
I
Mikosha
O
O
D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000166:cytology; D050256:Antimitotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D004249:DNA Damage; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D050256:Antimitotic Agents; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D004983:Ethanolamines; C022203:N-acylethanolamines; D017239:Paclitaxel