sdz-psc-833 and biricodar

Drug resistance is the major reason for failure of cancer therapy. When one drug elicits a response in tumour cells resulting in resistance to a large variety of chemically unrelated drugs, this is called multidrug-resistance (MDR). ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters contribute to drug resistance via ATP-dependent drug efflux. P-glycoprotein (Pgp) encoded by MDR1 gene, confers resistance to certain anticancer agents. The development of agents able to modulate MDR mediated by Pgp and ABC transporters remained a major goal for the past 10 years. Immunosuppressors, cyclosporin A (CSA) in particular, were shown to modulate Pgp activity in laboratory models and entered very early into clinical trials for reversal of MDR. The proof of reversing activity of CSA was found in phase II studies with myeloma and acute leukaemia. In phase III studies, the results were less convincing regarding the response rate, progression-free survival and overall survival were detected in advanced refractory myeloma. The non-immunosuppressive derivative PSC833 was then extensively studied. This compound shows 10-fold higher potency in reversal of MDR mediated by Pgp. Results from clinical trials with this modulator are still emerging and the notable finding was the need to reduce the dose of anticancer agent used in combination with it. Other effects of CSA and PSC833 on MDR have been described. These two molecules have been shown to have an action on the metabolism of ceramide which stands as second messenger of anticancer agents-induced apoptosis. PSC833 stimulates de novo ceramide synthesis and enhances cell death induced by anticancer agents, such as camptothecins and anthracyclines. In addition, ceramide glycosylation and storage in some cell lines have been described to play a crucial role in resistance to anticancer drugs. CSA is able to inhibit ceramide glucosylation and modulate MDR phenotype. The emergence of other modulators with several ABC protein targets like VX710 are of clinical interest in malignancies expressing several efflux pumps.

Topics: Animals; Apoptosis; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; Biological Transport, Active; Ceramides; Cyclosporine; Cyclosporins; Drug Resistance, Multiple; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Multiple Myeloma; Piperidines; Pyridines

Modulation of P glycoprotein (Pgp) in clinical oncology has had limited success. Contributing factors have included the limitation in our understanding of the tumours in which Pgp overexpression is mechanistically important in clinical drug resistance; the failure to prove that concentrations of modulators achieved in patients were sufficient to inhibit Pgp; and the inability to conclusively prove that Pgp modulation was occurring in tumours in patients. New approaches are needed to determine the clinical settings in which Pgp overexpression plays a major role in resistance. (Clinical trials with third generation modulators are ongoing, including trials with the compounds LY335979, R101933 and XR9576. Using the Pgp substrate Tc-99m Sestamibi as an imaging agent, increased uptake has been seen in normal liver and kidney after administration of PSC 833, VX710 and XR9576. These studies confirm that the concentrations of modulator achieved in patients are able to increase uptake of a Pgp substrate. Furthermore, CD56+ cells obtained from patients treated with PSC 833 demonstrate enhanced rhodamine retention in an ex vivo assay after administration of the antagonist. Finally, a subset of patients treated with Pgp antagonists show enhanced Sestamibi retention in imaged tumours. These results suggest that Pgp modulators can increase drug accumulation in Pgp-expressing tumours and normal tissues in patients. Using third generation Pgp antagonists and properly designed clinical trials, it should be possible to determine the contribution of modulators to the reversal of clinical drug resistance.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; Benzazepines; Clinical Trials as Topic; Cyclosporins; Dibenzocycloheptenes; Drug Interactions; Drug Resistance, Multiple; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; Enzyme Inhibitors; Fluorescent Dyes; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Genes, MDR; Humans; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Neoplasm Proteins; Neoplasms; Piperidines; Pyridines; Quinolines; Radionuclide Imaging; Radiopharmaceuticals; Rhodamines; Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi; Tissue Distribution; Tumor Cells, Cultured

This review describes the clinical relevance of the two drug transporters P-glycoprotein (Pgp) and multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) and the in vitro phenomenon which is referred to as multidrug resistance (MDR). The attempts to try to block these resistance mechanisms are summarized with specific attention for the intentionally designed "second generation" MDR-convertors. Potential explanations of the limited clinical success rate are given and recommendations for the design of future studies provided.

Topics: Acridines; Animals; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; Bacterial Proteins; Cyclosporins; Drug Resistance, Multiple; Humans; Isoquinolines; Piperidines; Pyridines; Serine Endopeptidases; Tetrahydroisoquinolines

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; Cyclosporins; Dibenzocycloheptenes; Drug Resistance, Multiple; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; Drugs, Investigational; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Lung Neoplasms; Membrane Transport Proteins; Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein 2; Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins; National Institutes of Health (U.S.); Neoplasms; Piperidines; Pyridines; Quinolines; United States

We have established preclinical models for the development of drug resistance to vincristine (a major drug used in the treatment of pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma) using cell lines. The RD cell line has a mutant P53 phenotype and does not have detectable P-glycoprotein (P-gp) or multidrug resistance-related protein (MRP) despite expressing low levels of mdr-1 mRNA, which encodes P-gp and mrp1 mRNA. Resistant variants of RD were derived by exposure to increasing concentrations of vincristine. This was repeated on six occasions, resulting in three cell lines which could tolerate 64 x the IC(50) concentration. Six independent agents were tested for their ability to prevent the development of resistance in this model. Despite at least 10 attempts, resistance did not develop in the presence of the multidrug resistance (MDR) modulators PSC833, VX710, and XR9576. This strongly suggests that these agents may delay or even prevent the development of resistance to vincristine. This was also confirmed in a second rhabdomyosarcoma cell line, Rh30. In contrast, the agents indomethacin (MRP1 modulator), CGP41251 (protein kinase C inhibitor), and dexrazoxane (putative MDR prevention agent) did not affect the development of resistance in the RD model. Characterization of the resistant cell lines indicated the presence of increased mdr-1 and P-gp expression, which resulted in resistance to the agents doxorubicin, etoposide, and vincristine but not cisplatin. The resistance could be modulated using PSC833 or VX710, confirming that functional P-gp is present. No apparent differences were seen between the resistant cell lines derived in the absence and presence of the various agents. These experiments strongly suggest that the development of MDR may be preventable using modulators of MDR and merit clinical studies to test this hypothesis.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; Child; Cisplatin; Cyclosporins; Doxorubicin; Drug Resistance, Multiple; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; Etoposide; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Indomethacin; Inhibitory Concentration 50; Piperidines; Pyridines; Quinolines; Razoxane; Rhabdomyosarcoma; RNA, Neoplasm; Staurosporine; Time Factors; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Vincristine