prodigiosin and Leukemia--Lymphocytic--Chronic--B-Cell

We have previously reported that prodigiosin (2-methyl-3-pentyl-6-methoxyprodigiosene) induces apoptosis in human hematopoietic cancer cell lines with no marked toxicity in nonmalignant cell lines. In this study, we demonstrate that prodigiosin induces apoptosis of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) cells (n=32 patients). The dose-response for the cytotoxic effect of prodigiosin was analyzed in cells from 12 patients showing an IC(50) of 116+/-25 nM. Prodigiosin induced apoptosis of B-CLL cells through caspase activation. We also analyzed the cytotoxic effect of prodigiosin in T cells from B-CLL samples and no differences were observed with respect to leukemia cells. This is the first report showing that prodigiosin induces apoptosis in human primary cancer cells.

Topics: Antiporters; Apoptosis; B-Lymphocytes; Caspases; Enzyme Activation; Humans; Ion Transport; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell; Neoplasm Proteins; Neoplastic Stem Cells; Prodigiosin; T-Lymphocytes; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53