Effects of patupilone (epothilone B; EPO906), a novel chemotherapeutic agent, in hepatocellular carcinoma: an in vitro study.
OBJECTIVE
In this study, the cytotoxic effects of patupilone (epothilone B; EPO906) were assessed in a panel of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines, and were compared with doxorubicin and the microtubule-stabilizing taxanes.


METHODS
The following HCC cell lines were used: PLC/PRF/5, HepG2, Hep3B, SNU-387, SNU-398, SNU-423, SNU-449, and SNU-475. Cells were treated with various concentrations of patupilone, paclitaxel, docetaxel, or doxorubicin for 72 h; 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC(50)) were determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide assay. P-glycoprotein expression was assessed using standard Western blotting techniques.


RESULTS
Patupilone was found to be the most potent drug in all 8 HCC cell lines. All cell lines except SNU-449 were 4- to19-fold more sensitive to patupilone than to paclitaxel and docetaxel, and 59- to 208-fold more sensitive than to doxorubicin. SNU-449, the most resistant cell line and the only one overexpressing P-glycoprotein, was 3- to 39-fold more resistant to paclitaxel, docetaxel, and doxorubicin than were other cell lines. The IC(50) of patupilone in SNU-449 was 1.14 nmol, which was 108- to 529-fold lower than those of the other agents.


CONCLUSIONS
Patupilone was more potent than taxanes and doxorubicin in HCC cell lines and may result in reduced clinical resistance by overcoming P-glycoprotein overexpression. A clinical study in HCC is warranted.
Department of Clinical Oncology, State Key Laboratory in Oncology in South China and Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China. tony@clo.cuhk.edu.hk
Tony S K
TS
Mok
Eve
E
Choi
Daisy
D
Yau
Anandhi
A
Johri
Winnie
W
Yeo
Anthony T C
AT
Chan
Cesar
C
Wong
D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000494:pharmacology; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D034261:Epothilones / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000494:pharmacology; D043823:Taxoids / Q000494:pharmacology
D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D034261:Epothilones; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004317:Doxorubicin; D017239:Paclitaxel; C093788:epothilone B