Biomaterial Database

A comparison of the effects of antitumor agents upon normal human epidermal keratinocytes and human squamous cell carcinoma. 1990

W M Firestone, and G B FitzGerald, and M M Wick

Division of Medicine, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115.

The pharmacologic responses of normal and malignant epidermal cells to chemotherapeutic agents were examined in a system which consists of a serum-free "defined" medium. The effects of methotrexate (MTX), fluorodeoxyuridine (FUDR), and hydroxyurea upon cell growth, DNA synthesis, thymidylate synthase activity, and dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) activity were compared in normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK), newborn epidermal cells (NEC), human squamous cell carcinoma (SCC-25), and a methotrexate-resistant human squamous cell carcinoma (SCC-15R). Normal keratinocytes were found to be 10(3) to 10(4) times less sensitive to the effects of MTX and FUDR than the malignant cells with respect to growth and DNA synthesis. The differential sensitivity to MTX and FUDR was not due to differences in growth media, increased target enzyme activity, e.g., DHFR and thymidylate synthase, or impaired transport of these drugs. The results indicate that the mechanism for the increased sensitivity of the squamous cell carcinoma to MTX and FUDR must involve a process which is distal to the de novo synthesis of dTMP.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008727	Methotrexate	An antineoplastic antimetabolite with immunosuppressant properties. It is an inhibitor of TETRAHYDROFOLATE DEHYDROGENASE and prevents the formation of tetrahydrofolate, necessary for synthesis of thymidylate, an essential component of DNA.	Amethopterin,Methotrexate Hydrate,Methotrexate Sodium,Methotrexate, (D)-Isomer,Methotrexate, (DL)-Isomer,Methotrexate, Dicesium Salt,Methotrexate, Disodium Salt,Methotrexate, Sodium Salt,Mexate,Dicesium Salt Methotrexate,Hydrate, Methotrexate,Sodium, Methotrexate
D002294	Carcinoma, Squamous Cell	A carcinoma derived from stratified SQUAMOUS EPITHELIAL CELLS. It may also occur in sites where glandular or columnar epithelium is normally present. (From Stedman, 25th ed)	Carcinoma, Epidermoid,Carcinoma, Planocellular,Carcinoma, Squamous,Squamous Cell Carcinoma,Carcinomas, Epidermoid,Carcinomas, Planocellular,Carcinomas, Squamous,Carcinomas, Squamous Cell,Epidermoid Carcinoma,Epidermoid Carcinomas,Planocellular Carcinoma,Planocellular Carcinomas,Squamous Carcinoma,Squamous Carcinomas,Squamous Cell Carcinomas
D002455	Cell Division	The fission of a CELL. It includes CYTOKINESIS, when the CYTOPLASM of a cell is divided, and CELL NUCLEUS DIVISION.	M Phase,Cell Division Phase,Cell Divisions,Division Phase, Cell,Division, Cell,Divisions, Cell,M Phases,Phase, Cell Division,Phase, M,Phases, M
D002460	Cell Line	Established cell cultures that have the potential to propagate indefinitely.	Cell Lines,Line, Cell,Lines, Cell
D004247	DNA	A deoxyribonucleotide polymer that is the primary genetic material of all cells. Eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms normally contain DNA in a double-stranded state, yet several important biological processes transiently involve single-stranded regions. DNA, which consists of a polysugar-phosphate backbone possessing projections of purines (adenine and guanine) and pyrimidines (thymine and cytosine), forms a double helix that is held together by hydrogen bonds between these purines and pyrimidines (adenine to thymine and guanine to cytosine).	DNA, Double-Stranded,Deoxyribonucleic Acid,ds-DNA,DNA, Double Stranded,Double-Stranded DNA,ds DNA
D004273	DNA, Neoplasm	DNA present in neoplastic tissue.	Neoplasm DNA
D005467	Floxuridine	An antineoplastic antimetabolite that is metabolized to fluorouracil when administered by rapid injection; when administered by slow, continuous, intra-arterial infusion, it is converted to floxuridine monophosphate. It has been used to treat hepatic metastases of gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas and for palliation in malignant neoplasms of the liver and gastrointestinal tract.	FUdR,Fluorodeoxyuridine,5-FUdR,5-Fluorodeoxyuridine,5 Fluorodeoxyuridine
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012878	Skin Neoplasms	Tumors or cancer of the SKIN.	Cancer of Skin,Skin Cancer,Cancer of the Skin,Neoplasms, Skin,Cancer, Skin,Cancers, Skin,Neoplasm, Skin,Skin Cancers,Skin Neoplasm
D013762	Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase	An enzyme of the oxidoreductase class that catalyzes the reaction 7,8-dihyrofolate and NADPH to yield 5,6,7,8-tetrahydrofolate and NADPH+, producing reduced folate for amino acid metabolism, purine ring synthesis, and the formation of deoxythymidine monophosphate. Methotrexate and other folic acid antagonists used as chemotherapeutic drugs act by inhibiting this enzyme. (Dorland, 27th ed) EC 1.5.1.3.	Dihydrofolate Dehydrogenase,Dihydrofolate Reductase,Folic Acid Reductase,Acid Reductase, Folic,Dehydrogenase, Dihydrofolate,Dehydrogenase, Tetrahydrofolate,Reductase, Dihydrofolate,Reductase, Folic Acid