Estrogen-induced potentiation of DNA damage and cytotoxicity in human breast cancer cells treated with topoisomerase II-interactive antitumor drugs. 1988

R J Epstein, and P J Smith
Department of Clinical Oncology and Radiotherapeutics, MRC Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom.

Hormone stimulation of responsive neoplasms is a potential strategy for improving the target selectivity of cancer chemotherapy. Using an alkaline DNA-unwinding technique to detect drug-induced DNA strand breakage, we have shown that estrogen stimulation of T-47D human breast cancer cells enhances induction of DNA cleavage by etoposide (VP-16), 4',9-acridinylaminomethanesulfon-m-anisidide (m-AMSA), mitoxantrone, and doxorubicin, drugs known to interact with the DNA-modifying enzyme topoisomerase II. No enhancement of DNA cleavage or cytotoxicity was seen in estrogen-treated cells exposed to X-rays or bleomycin. Novobiocin (an inhibitor of topoisomerase II) markedly antagonized the enhancing effect of estrogen on VP-16-induced DNA cleavage, while neutral nucleoid sedimentation detected less than 10% of such strand breaks revealed in estrogen-treated cells by alkaline unwinding. Estrogen did not affect DNA repair of lesions induced by X-rays, VP-16, or ultraviolet radiation. Enhancement of DNA cleavage was accompanied by a corresponding enhancement of cytotoxicity in cells treated with VP-16 or m-AMSA, but only minimal enhancement of cytotoxicity was seen following treatment with mitoxantrone or doxorubicin. Estrogen-treated and control cells treated with VP-16 and m-AMSA sustained similar levels of DNA cleavage for equivalent levels of cytotoxicity. These findings suggest that estrogen potentiates the cytotoxicity of VP-16 and m-AMSA by enhancing topoisomerase II-mediated DNA damage but that such "damage" does not contribute significantly to cytotoxicity induced by mitoxantrone or doxorubicin. Estrogen stimulation of receptor-positive breast cancer may prove to be a clinically relevant strategy for improving the selectivity and cytotoxicity of some, but not all, topoisomerase II-interactive drugs.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008942 Mitoxantrone An anthracenedione-derived antineoplastic agent. Mitozantrone,CL-232325,DHAQ,Mitoxantrone Acetate,Mitoxantrone Hydrochloride,Mitroxone,NSC-279836,NSC-287836,NSC-299195,NSC-301739,NSC-301739D,Novantron,Novantrone,Onkotrone,Pralifan,Ralenova,Acetate, Mitoxantrone,CL 232325,CL232325,Hydrochloride, Mitoxantrone,NSC 279836,NSC 287836,NSC 299195,NSC 301739,NSC 301739D,NSC279836,NSC287836,NSC299195,NSC301739,NSC301739D
D001943 Breast Neoplasms Tumors or cancer of the human BREAST. Breast Cancer,Breast Tumors,Cancer of Breast,Breast Carcinoma,Cancer of the Breast,Human Mammary Carcinoma,Malignant Neoplasm of Breast,Malignant Tumor of Breast,Mammary Cancer,Mammary Carcinoma, Human,Mammary Neoplasm, Human,Mammary Neoplasms, Human,Neoplasms, Breast,Tumors, Breast,Breast Carcinomas,Breast Malignant Neoplasm,Breast Malignant Neoplasms,Breast Malignant Tumor,Breast Malignant Tumors,Breast Neoplasm,Breast Tumor,Cancer, Breast,Cancer, Mammary,Cancers, Mammary,Carcinoma, Breast,Carcinoma, Human Mammary,Carcinomas, Breast,Carcinomas, Human Mammary,Human Mammary Carcinomas,Human Mammary Neoplasm,Human Mammary Neoplasms,Mammary Cancers,Mammary Carcinomas, Human,Neoplasm, Breast,Neoplasm, Human Mammary,Neoplasms, Human Mammary,Tumor, Breast
D002470 Cell Survival The span of viability of a cell characterized by the capacity to perform certain functions such as metabolism, growth, reproduction, some form of responsiveness, and adaptability. Cell Viability,Cell Viabilities,Survival, Cell,Viabilities, Cell,Viability, Cell
D004249 DNA Damage Injuries to DNA that introduce deviations from its normal, intact structure and which may, if left unrepaired, result in a MUTATION or a block of DNA REPLICATION. These deviations may be caused by physical or chemical agents and occur by natural or unnatural, introduced circumstances. They include the introduction of illegitimate bases during replication or by deamination or other modification of bases; the loss of a base from the DNA backbone leaving an abasic site; single-strand breaks; double strand breaks; and intrastrand (PYRIMIDINE DIMERS) or interstrand crosslinking. Damage can often be repaired (DNA REPAIR). If the damage is extensive, it can induce APOPTOSIS. DNA Injury,DNA Lesion,DNA Lesions,Genotoxic Stress,Stress, Genotoxic,Injury, DNA,DNA Injuries
D004250 DNA Topoisomerases, Type II DNA TOPOISOMERASES that catalyze ATP-dependent breakage of both strands of DNA, passage of the unbroken strands through the breaks, and rejoining of the broken strands. These enzymes bring about relaxation of the supercoiled DNA and resolution of a knotted circular DNA duplex. DNA Topoisomerase (ATP-Hydrolysing),DNA Topoisomerase II,DNA Topoisomerase II alpha,DNA Topoisomerase II beta,DNA Type 2 Topoisomerase,TOP2A Protein,TOP2B Protein,Topoisomerase II,Topoisomerase II alpha,Topoisomerase II beta,Type II DNA Topoisomerase,alpha, Topoisomerase II,beta, Topoisomerase II
D004260 DNA Repair The removal of DNA LESIONS and/or restoration of intact DNA strands without BASE PAIR MISMATCHES, intrastrand or interstrand crosslinks, or discontinuities in the DNA sugar-phosphate backbones. DNA Damage Response
D004317 Doxorubicin Antineoplastic antibiotic obtained from Streptomyces peucetius. It is a hydroxy derivative of DAUNORUBICIN. Adriamycin,Adriablastin,Adriablastine,Adriblastin,Adriblastina,Adriblastine,Adrimedac,DOXO-cell,Doxolem,Doxorubicin Hexal,Doxorubicin Hydrochloride,Doxorubicin NC,Doxorubicina Ferrer Farm,Doxorubicina Funk,Doxorubicina Tedec,Doxorubicine Baxter,Doxotec,Farmiblastina,Myocet,Onkodox,Ribodoxo,Rubex,Urokit Doxo-cell,DOXO cell,Hydrochloride, Doxorubicin,Urokit Doxo cell
D004357 Drug Synergism The action of a drug in promoting or enhancing the effectiveness of another drug. Drug Potentiation,Drug Augmentation,Augmentation, Drug,Augmentations, Drug,Drug Augmentations,Drug Potentiations,Drug Synergisms,Potentiation, Drug,Potentiations, Drug,Synergism, Drug,Synergisms, Drug
D004967 Estrogens Compounds that interact with ESTROGEN RECEPTORS in target tissues to bring about the effects similar to those of ESTRADIOL. Estrogens stimulate the female reproductive organs, and the development of secondary female SEX CHARACTERISTICS. Estrogenic chemicals include natural, synthetic, steroidal, or non-steroidal compounds. Estrogen,Estrogen Effect,Estrogen Effects,Estrogen Receptor Agonists,Estrogenic Agents,Estrogenic Compounds,Estrogenic Effect,Estrogenic Effects,Agents, Estrogenic,Agonists, Estrogen Receptor,Compounds, Estrogenic,Effects, Estrogen,Effects, Estrogenic,Receptor Agonists, Estrogen
D005047 Etoposide A semisynthetic derivative of PODOPHYLLOTOXIN that exhibits antitumor activity. Etoposide inhibits DNA synthesis by forming a complex with topoisomerase II and DNA. This complex induces breaks in double stranded DNA and prevents repair by topoisomerase II binding. Accumulated breaks in DNA prevent entry into the mitotic phase of cell division, and lead to cell death. Etoposide acts primarily in the G2 and S phases of the cell cycle. Demethyl Epipodophyllotoxin Ethylidine Glucoside,Celltop,Eposide,Eposin,Eto-GRY,Etomedac,Etopos,Etoposide Pierre Fabre,Etoposide Teva,Etoposide, (5S)-Isomer,Etoposide, (5a alpha)-Isomer,Etoposide, (5a alpha,9 alpha)-Isomer,Etoposide, alpha-D-Glucopyranosyl Isomer,Etoposido Ferrer Farma,Exitop,Lastet,NSC-141540,Onkoposid,Riboposid,Toposar,VP 16-213,VP-16,Vepesid,Vépéside-Sandoz,Eto GRY,Etoposide, alpha D Glucopyranosyl Isomer,NSC 141540,NSC141540,Teva, Etoposide,VP 16,VP 16 213,VP 16213,VP16,Vépéside Sandoz,alpha-D-Glucopyranosyl Isomer Etoposide

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