Cordycepin/Hydroxyurea synergy allows low dosage efficacy of cordycepin in MOLT-4 leukemia cells.
BACKGROUND
Cordycepin requires the relatively toxic co-drug, deoxycoformycin, for full efficacy as an anticancer agent. We sought to improve cordycepin efficacy using other, less toxic co-drugs.


METHODS
We evaluated the ability of hydroxyurea (HU) to enhance the effects of cordycepin against MOLT-4 leukemia cells with the MTT cell viability assay. We determined the relationship of the combination drug treatment with CalcuSyn statistical analysis program according to the Chou-Talalay method.


RESULTS
HU (50 microg/ml) was found to reduce the IC50 of cordycepin from 100 microM to 0.3 microM, a reduction similar to that observed for deoxycoformycin. CalcuSyn analysis of the cordycepin/HU combination revealed the dose effect as synergistic. Further statistical analysis demonstrated a clear synergy between the two drugs at a range of dosages.


CONCLUSIONS
HU was identified as a promising potential alternative for anti-cancer therapy with cordycepin, thus eliminating the need for the toxic deoxycoformycin.
Wehbe-Janek
Hania
H
Department of Biology, Institute of Biomedical Studies, Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor University, One Bear Place # 97388, Waco, TX 76798, USA.
Shi
Qiang
Q
Kearney
Christopher M
CM
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003839:Deoxyadenosines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004357:Drug Synergism; D006801:Humans; D006918:Hydroxyurea / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015458:Leukemia, T-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*
D003839:Deoxyadenosines; C058120:cordycepin; D006918:Hydroxyurea