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Growth inhibitory effects of paclitaxel on human epithelioid sarcoma in vitro
Author(s) -
Reinecke Petra,
Knopf Christiane,
Schmitz Michael,
Schneider Eva M.,
Gabbert Helmut E.,
Gerharz Claus D.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0142(20000401)88:7<1614::aid-cncr16>3.0.co;2-x
Subject(s) - paclitaxel , cell culture , cancer research , apoptosis , cell growth , biology , chemotherapy , epithelioid sarcoma , sarcoma , pathology , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , genetics
BACKGROUND Epithelioid sarcoma is a highly malignant soft tissue tumor that is largely resistant to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Because paclitaxel has been proven to be effective in other human malignancies refractory to conventional chemotherapy, the authors analyzed the in vitro growth inhibitory effects of paclitaxel on the human epithelioid‐sarcoma cell line GRU‐1 and its clonal subpopulations GRU‐1A, GRU‐1B, and GRU‐1C. METHODS Paclitaxel‐induced morphologic alterations were visualized using light microscopy, immunofluorescence microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The antiproliferative effects of paclitaxel on the cell lines were determined by 3‐[4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl]‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium′ bromide (MTT) assay. The extent of paclitaxel‐induced apoptosis was determined by light microscopy. The expression and function of P‐glycoprotein and the multidrug resistance‐associated protein (MRP) were defined by reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction and fluorescence‐activated cell sorter analysis. RESULTS Paclitaxel—induced morphologic alterations such as micronucleus formation and microtubule bundles showed no significant differences between the parental cell line and its clonal subpopulations. A significant (P < 0.05) dose‐dependent growth inhibition was observed in GRU‐1 and its clonal subpopulations, with the IC 50 (concentration that inhibits 50%) values ranging from 0.04‐0.49 μM in the different subpopulations. Paclitaxel‐induced growth inhibition was accompanied by a slight increase in apoptosis. All cell lines showed an expression of and an effective function of P‐glycoprotein and MRP. CONCLUSIONS The differential response of GRU‐1 and its clonal subpopulations to paclitaxel could not be predicted by the expression and function of P‐glycoprotein and MRP, suggesting that other drug resistance mechanisms might be relevant in the heterogenous response observed in the epithelioid sarcoma cell lines in the current study. Cancer 2000;88:1614–22. © 2000 American Cancer Society.