Identification and evaluation of potential anti-cancer drugs on human neuroendocrine tumor cell lines.
The aim of this study was to investigate drug sensitivity in neuroendocrine tumor cell lines.


METHODS
In vitro drug sensitivity screening was performed using the fluorometric microculture cytotoxicity assay in one human pancreatic carcinoid and two human bronchial carcinoid cell lines. In addition, a normal human retinal pigment epithelial cell line was used for comparison. A total of 18 drugs with different mechanisms of action were tested.


RESULTS
The most active agents were brefeldin A, emetine, bortezomib and idarubicin, having IC5o values <1 microM in all four cell lines. In addition, the three tumor cell lines showed sensitivity for sanguinarine, Bayll-7085, mitoxantrone, doxorubicin, beta-lapachone, NSC 95397 and CGP-74514A.


CONCLUSIONS
The cell lines were sensitive for several drugs acting in different ways, covering a broad spectrum of mechanisms of action. Some of these compounds may possibly be used in clinical trials and show therapeutic effect in patients with neuroendocrine tumors.
Larsson
Dhana E
DE
Department of Endocrine Oncology, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
Lövborg
Henrik
H
Rickardson
Linda
L
Larsson
Rolf
R
Oberg
Kjell
K
Granberg
Dan
D
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D006801:Humans; D018358:Neuroendocrine Tumors / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents