Incorporation into leukemia cells

The cytotoxic activities of the 2, 2 -difluoro analog (775) of 737 against Chinese hamster ovary and tumor cells, in comparison with those of 1- -d-arabinofuranosylcytosine ara-C, a drug for leukemia), have been studied 775 is transported the faster through membrane into cells, more effectively phosphorylated by the deoxycytidine kinase (to the 5 -mono-phosphate) and, after conversion into the 5 -triphosphate, more highly accumulated in the cells, with longer duration time, than is ara-C, but nevertheless 775 is incorporated into the DNA to a lesser extent than is ara-C. These characteristics of 775 were discussed. 

The effect of 6-mercaptopurine on the incorporation of a number of C-labelled compounds into soluble purine nucleotides and into RNA and DNA has been studied in leukemia L1210, Ehrlich ascites carcinoma, and solid sarcoma 180. At a level of 6-mercaptopurine that markedly inhibited the incorporation of formate and glycine, the utilization of adenine or 2-aminoadenine was not affected. There was no inhibition of the incorporation of 5(or 4)-aminoimidazole-4(5)-carboxamide (AIC) into adenine derivatives and no marked or consistent inhibition of its incorporation into guanine derivatives. The conversion of AIC to purines in ascites cells was not inhibited at levels of 6-mercaptopurine 8-20 times those that produced 50 per cent or greater inhibition of de novo synthesis [292]. Furthermore, AIC reverses the inhibition of growth of S180 cells (AH/5) in culture by 6-mercaptopurine [293]. These results suggest that in all these systems, in vitro and in vivo, the principal site at which 6-mercaptopurine inhibits nucleic acid biosynthesis is prior to the formation of AIC, and that the interconversion of purine ribonucleotides (see below) is not the primary site of action [292]. Presumably, this early step is the conversion of PRPP to 5-phosphoribosylamine inhibited allosterically by 6-mercaptopurine ribonucleotide (feedback inhibition is not observed in cells that cannot convert 6-mercaptopurine to its ribonucleotide [244]. 

Cladribine, or 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine, is resistant to adenosine deaminase and after intracellular phosphorylation by deoxycytidine kinase, it is incorporated into DNA. It is considered the drug of choice in hairy cell leukemia because of high activity combined with acceptable toxicity. Cladribine shows variable oral absorbtion and is usually administered intravenously. Its concentration-time course is biphasic with plasma half-lives of 35 minutes and 6.7 hours. Excretion is primarily by the kidneys. Its most prominent dose-limiting toxicity is myelosup-pression. 

The product of this reaction, 6-TGMP, can eventually be converted to deoxy-6-thioguanosine-triphos-phate (dTGTP), which has been shown to be incorporated into DNA. Resistance of human leukemia cells to thioguanine has been correlated with decreased activity of HGPRTase and to increased inactivation of the thio nucleotides by alkaline phosphatase. 

Lecithin-based o/w MEs for parenteral use were formulated using polysorbate 80, IPM (Isopropyl myristate), lecithin, and water at different lecithin-polysorbate 80 weight ratios [115]. The formulated systems were shown to be highly stable and of minimal toxicity when evaluated in vitro. Phospholipid-based ME formulations of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) for parenteral administration were prepared and tested in vitro [116]. ATRA is effective against acute promyelocytic leukemia with highly variable oral bioavailability. Parenteral ME of ATRA was prepared using pharmaceutically acceptable ingredients, namely phospholipids and soybean oil. The inhibitory effect of ATRA on two human cancer cell lines (HL-60 and MCF-7) was not affected by incorporation into a ME formulation. 

Fig. 3. The gplSO family of cytokines and receptors. Schematic representation of gpl30 and leukemia inhibitory factor receptor (LIFR) oriented in a cell membrane. Of the four-helix bundle gplSO cytokines, structural information currently exists for human interleukin 6 (IL-6) (green) (Somers et al, 1997), human herpes virus interleukin 6 (HlTV-8 IL-6) (purple) (Chow et al, 2001a), ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) (orange) (McDonald et al., 1995), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) (blue) (Robinson et al, 1994), and oncostatin-M (OSM) (red) (Deller et al, 2000). Lower panel is a detailed list of gplSO cytokines and the associated receptors incorporated into the final signaling complex. (See Color Insert.)...

An ADA-resistant purine analog, cladribine (2-chlorodeoxyadenosine 2-CdA) has demonstrated potent activity in hairy cell leukemia, CLL, and low-grade lymphomas. After intracellular phosphorylation by deoxycytidine kinase and conversion to cladribine triphosphate, it is incorporated into DNA. It produces DNA strand breaks and depletion of NAD and adenosine triphosphate (ATP), as well as apoptosis, and is a potent inhibitor of ribonucleotide reductase. The drug does not require cell division to be cytotoxic. Resistance is associated with loss of the activating enzyme, deoxycytidine kinase, or escape of ribonucleotide reductase from inhibition. 

Ans. The properties of strontium are very similar to those of calcium, and therefore if radioactive strontium enters the body it will be incorporated into bone, particularly growing bone, as in children. Because of its insertion into bone, this radioisotope becomes a lifetime burden, and can produce cancer of the bone and/or leukemia. Cesium is an alkali metal so its properties are similar to those of potassium, whose cation concentrates inside cells. The presence of radioactive cesium in cells can inflict damage in a wide variety of tissues. However, sinee it is quite soluble, it is rapidly eliminated from the body. 

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