cryptophycin and Lung-Neoplasms

Bcl-2 has been described as a factor that can protect from apoptosis. The protective effect of Bcl-2 may be lost if the protein is phosphorylated. Bcl-2 phosphorylation can be induced by agents that affect microtubule depolymerization or prevent microtubule assembly. In 13 human tumor cell lines there was a high degree of heterogeneity in Bcl-2 protein expression. Human H460 non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cells expressed high levels of Bcl-2 and were selected for study. Western blot analysis for Bcl-2 phosphorylation was carried out after 4 h and 24 h of exposure to cryptophycin 52, cryptophycin 55, paclitaxel or vinblastine. Cryptophycin 52 and cryptophycin 55 were very potent inducers of Bcl-2 phosphorylation. After 4 h of exposure, Bcl-2 phosphorylation was evident with 0.05 nM cryptophycin 52, 0.25 nM cryptophycin 55, 5 nM vinblastine and 50 nM paclitaxel. The hyperphosphorylated form of Bcl-2 was evident after 24 h exposure of H460 cells to 0.25 nM cryptophycin 52 or cryptophycin 55 and 50 nM vinblastine or paclitaxel. The effects of the compounds on the cell cycle paralleled those on Bcl-2 phosphorylation. In H460 cells 90% cell killing was obtained with 0.13 nM cryptophycin 52, 0.2 nM cryptophycin 55, 20 nM paclitaxel and > 100 nM vinblastine after 24 h of exposure as determined by colony formation. In Bcl-2-negative Calu-6 NSCLC cells, 90% cell killing was obtained with 0.03 nM cryptophycin 52, 0.1 nM cryptophycin 55, 11 nM paclitaxel and 0.5 nM vinblastine using the same experimental design. Thus, cryptophycins are potent inducers of Bcl-2 phosphorylation. The cryptophycins were more potent cytotoxic agents in Bcl-2-negative Calu-6 cells than in Bcl-2-positive H460 cells indicating that pathways triggered by Bcl-2 phosphorylation are involved in cryptophycin-induced lethality.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Blotting, Western; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Cell Division; Cell Survival; Depsipeptides; G2 Phase; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Mitosis; Peptides, Cyclic; Phosphorylation; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Cryptophycin (CP) is a newly developed anticancer agent isolated from the terrestrial cyanobacteria of the genus Nostoc. CP is a mitotic inhibitor, causing cells to accumulate in mitosis with the disappearance of intracellular microtubules. In this report, we studied the interaction and uptake of a new synthetic CP analog, CP-52, with 2 human tumor cell lines, THP-1 and H-125. In vitro colony-forming assay showed that CP-52 has antiproliferative activity against THP-1 and H-125 cell lines with IC50 of 0.1 ng/ml and 20 microg/ml, respectively; i.e., THP-1 cells are 200,000 times more sensitive to CP-52 than H-125 cells. The uptake of CP-52 by the target cells was carried out using tritiated CP-52 (3H-CP-52). The uptake of 3H-CP-52 by both THP-1 and H-125 cells was rapid, reaching a maximum within 20 min. Dissociation experiments showed that CP-52 interacts with the target cells irreversibly, presumably by binding to specific cellular sites with high affinity. With increasing doses of 3H-CP-52, the uptake was found to be saturable, reaching a steady state as the concentrations of 3H-CP-52 were raised to about 20 microg/ml. Under this condition, the maximal values of CP-52 uptake by THP-1 and H-125 cells was estimated to be 27 and 136 ng/10(5) cells, respectively. The uptake and accumulation of 3H-CP-52 with the target cells was effectively inhibited by prior treatment with unlabeled CP-52 and, to a lesser extent, vinblastine and taxol but not adriamycin, colchicine or mitomycin. In addition, the binding of 3H-CP-52 to purified tubulin was inhibited by vinblastine but not taxol. This finding suggested that CP-52 and taxol interact and bind to distinct regions of tubulin molecules. Further, it suggests that, in addition to tubulin, other intracellular and/or membrane components are involved in mediating the binding of CP-52.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Depsipeptides; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Humans; Leukemia; Lung Neoplasms; Peptides, Cyclic; Tubulin; Tumor Cells, Cultured