TY - JOUR
T1 - Cellular basis of antiproliferative and antitumor activity of the novel camptothecin derivative, gimatecan, in bladder carcinoma models
AU - Ulivi, Paola
AU - Zoli, Wainer
AU - Fabbri, Francesco
AU - Brigliadori, Giovanni
AU - Ricotti, Luca
AU - Tesei, Anna
AU - Rosetti, Marco
AU - De Cesare, Michelandrea
AU - Beretta, Giovanni L.
AU - Corna, Elisabetta
AU - Supino, Rosanna
AU - Zunino, Franco
PY - 2005/2
Y1 - 2005/2
N2 - To investigate the cellular/molecular basis of the activity of a novel lipophilic camptothecin, gimatecan (ST1481), against slowly proliferating cells, we performed a comparative study of topotecan and gimatecan in human bladder cancer models (HT1376 and MCR). Gimatecan was significantly more effective than topotecan in inhibiting the growth of HT1376 tumor, thus reflecting antiproliferative potency. In both HT1376 and MCR cells, gimatecan caused a persistent S-phase arrest, indicating an efficient DNA damage checkpoint. This response was consistent with a cytostatic effect, because no evidence of apoptosis was detected. In contrast to gimatecan, topotecan at equitoxic concentrations caused an early and persistent downregulation of topoisomerase I. Modulation of protein level could not be solely ascribed to the proteasome-mediated degradation of the enzyme because the proteasome inhibitor PS341 sensitized MCR but not HT1376 cells to camptothecins, suggesting alternative mechanisms of drug-induced topoisomerase I downregulation. Indeed, the two camptothecins caused a differential inhibition of topoisomerase I transcription, which is more marked in topotecan-treated cells. The HT1376 model was more sensitive to this immediate decrease of mRNA level. Our data document a marked antitumor activity of gimatecan against a bladder carcinoma model. A limited downregulation of topoisomerase I by gimatecan provides additional insights into the cellular basis of drug potency.
AB - To investigate the cellular/molecular basis of the activity of a novel lipophilic camptothecin, gimatecan (ST1481), against slowly proliferating cells, we performed a comparative study of topotecan and gimatecan in human bladder cancer models (HT1376 and MCR). Gimatecan was significantly more effective than topotecan in inhibiting the growth of HT1376 tumor, thus reflecting antiproliferative potency. In both HT1376 and MCR cells, gimatecan caused a persistent S-phase arrest, indicating an efficient DNA damage checkpoint. This response was consistent with a cytostatic effect, because no evidence of apoptosis was detected. In contrast to gimatecan, topotecan at equitoxic concentrations caused an early and persistent downregulation of topoisomerase I. Modulation of protein level could not be solely ascribed to the proteasome-mediated degradation of the enzyme because the proteasome inhibitor PS341 sensitized MCR but not HT1376 cells to camptothecins, suggesting alternative mechanisms of drug-induced topoisomerase I downregulation. Indeed, the two camptothecins caused a differential inhibition of topoisomerase I transcription, which is more marked in topotecan-treated cells. The HT1376 model was more sensitive to this immediate decrease of mRNA level. Our data document a marked antitumor activity of gimatecan against a bladder carcinoma model. A limited downregulation of topoisomerase I by gimatecan provides additional insights into the cellular basis of drug potency.
KW - Antitumor activity
KW - Bladder carcinoma
KW - Camptothecins
KW - DNA topoisomerase I
KW - Gimatecan
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=20044367822&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=20044367822&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1593/neo.04397
DO - 10.1593/neo.04397
M3 - Article
C2 - 15802020
AN - SCOPUS:20044367822
VL - 7
SP - 152
EP - 161
JO - Neoplasia
JF - Neoplasia
SN - 1522-8002
IS - 2
ER -