Tamoxifen-resistant human breast cancer cell growth: inhibition by thioridazine, pimozide and the calmodulin antagonist, W-13.

Abstract

Estrogen receptor (ER)-negative human breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-435) and ER-positive derivatives of the MCF-7 cell line selected for growth in the presence of antiestrogens (LY2 and RR) were used as in vitro models of tamoxifen-resistant human breast cancer in this study. The sensitivity of the tamoxifen-sensitive (MCF-7) and tamoxifen-resistant human breast cancer cell growth to two noncytotoxic neuroleptic drugs, pimozide and thioridazine, and the anticalmodulin agent, W-13, were compared. Inhibition of cell growth was measured as a decrease in cell number following a 72-h incubation with drug. Growth of the ER-negative cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-435 was inhibited by all three drugs. The average Ki values in these two lines were 6.3 and 3.8 microM for pimozide and 4.1 and 15 microM for thioridazine, respectively. Both ER-negative cell lines were more sensitive than MCF-7 cells to growth inhibition by W-13. MCF-7 cells selected for antiestrogen resistance were sensitive to growth inhibition by W-13 and thioridazine (LY2, average Ki = 10.4 microM; RR, average Ki = 5.2 microM). LY2 and RR cells were resistant to pimozide except when treated with estradiol (Ki = 4.6 and 7.9 microM, respectively). Pimozide, thioridazine and W-13 all exerted different effects on the distribution of human breast cancer cells within the cell cycle, suggesting that each drug may utilize a distinct pathway for inhibition of cell growth. We conclude that all three drugs are potential noncytotoxic alternatives to tamoxifen for the treatment of tamoxifen-resistant human breast cancer.

• Authors: J S Strobl, V A Peterson
• Journal: The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics (J Pharmacol Exp Ther) Vol. 263 Issue 1 Pg. 186-93 (Oct 1992) ISSN: 0022-3565 [Print] United States
• PMID: 1403784 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Calmodulin
• Receptors, Estrogen
• Sulfonamides
• Pimozide
• N-(4-aminobutyl)-5-chloro-2-naphthalenesulfonamide
• Thioridazine

Topics

• Breast Neoplasms (drug therapy)
• Calmodulin (antagonists & inhibitors)
• Cell Cycle (drug effects)
• Cell Division (drug effects)
• Drug Resistance
• Flow Cytometry
• Humans
• Pimozide (pharmacology)
• Receptors, Estrogen (drug effects)
• Sulfonamides (pharmacology)
• Thioridazine (pharmacology)
• Tumor Cells, Cultured (drug effects)