title: Bisethylnorspermine lipopolyamine as potential delivery vector for combination drug/gene anticancer therapies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To design novel synthetic gene delivery system in which the carrier molecule functions dually as a carrier and a cytotoxic agent targeting dysregulated polyamine metabolism in cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bisethylnorspermine (BENSpm) lipopolyamine was synthesized and its toxicity evaluated by MTS assay in MCF-7 and MCF-10A cells. Transfection activity was determined using luciferase plasmid DNA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Asymmetrical lipid analogue of polyamine anticancer drug BENSpm was synthesized using nucleophilic ring opening of azetidinium ion. The synthesized LipoBENSpm showed cytotoxicity comparable to that of parent BENSpm in human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 but mediated 3-4 orders magnitude higher transfection activity. Importantly, cytostatic activity of BENSpm, typically in a low muM range, falls within a relevant and typical concentration range required for efficient gene delivery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings make gene delivery vectors based on BENSpm promising candidates for combination drug/gene approaches to the treatment of cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202, USA.
authors.forename: Yanmei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Oupický
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D013096:Spermine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D008055:Lipids; C059685:N(1),N(11)-diethylnorspermine; D013096:Spermine; D004247:DNA; D008156:Luciferases