[Specific curative effects of nitrosourea drugs on tumor cells with Mer--phenotype in Chinese].

Abstract

O6-Methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (O6-MT) activity and cellular sensitivity to nitrosourea drugs of 10 kinds of tumor cell strains derived from Chinese patients were measured by 3H radioactivity and colony-forming ability, respectively. The results in vitro showed that nimustine (Nim) 25 micrograms.ml-1 and carmustine (Car) 20 micrograms.ml-1 exhibited specific killing effects on Mer-phenotype tumor cells characterized by low O6-MT activity. In vivo both Nim and Car (25 mg.kg-1.wk-1 x 4 wk, ip) had specific curative ability to Mer- tumor cells implanted in nude mice. These findings suggested that assay of O6- MT activity in tumor biopsy could be used as a predictable guide to human tumor chemotherapy with nitrosourea compounds.

• Authors: Y P Zhang, T He, J M Chen, Y N Chen, H Y Xu, G C Fan, Y Wu
• Journal: Zhongguo yao li xue bao = Acta pharmacologica Sinica (Zhongguo Yao Li Xue Bao) Vol. 14 Issue 6 Pg. 568-71 (Nov 1993) ISSN: 0253-9756 [Print] China
• PMID: 8010061 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Nimustine
• Methyltransferases
• O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase
• Carmustine

Topics

• Animals
• Carmustine (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Humans
• Liver Neoplasms (drug therapy, metabolism, pathology)
• Methyltransferases (metabolism)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Mice, Nude
• Neoplasm Transplantation
• Nimustine (therapeutic use)
• O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase
• Phenotype
• Tumor Cells, Cultured (drug effects, metabolism)
• Uterine Cervical Neoplasms (drug therapy, metabolism, pathology)