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N6‐isopentenyladenosine: A potential therapeutic agent for a variety of epithelial cancers
Author(s) -
Spinola Monica,
Colombo Francesca,
Falvella F. Stefania,
Dragani Tommaso A.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.22601
Subject(s) - clonogenic assay , leukemia , cancer research , cell culture , biology , nucleoside , cell growth , chemistry , biochemistry , genetics
Isopentenyladenosine (i 6 A) is a product of isopentenyltransferases and, in mammals, occurs either bound to tRNA or as a free nucleoside. Sporadic reports have suggested an anticancer effect of i 6 A, mostly on leukemia cells. The present analysis of 9 human epithelial cancer cell lines derived from different types of malignant tissue revealed complete suppression of clonogenic activity in 8 of the lines after exposure to i 6 A at a concentration of 10 μM. Mechanistic studies showed that i 6 A tumor suppressor activity is associated with inhibition of cell proliferation, a block in DNA synthesis and morphological changes. These results point to i 6 A and to its possible derivatives as a new potential class of wide‐spectrum anticancer agents. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.