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The reversal of doxorubicin resistance by verapamil is not due to an effect on calcium channels
Author(s) -
Huet S.,
Robert J.
Publication year - 1988
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.2910410220
Subject(s) - verapamil , calcium , calcium channel , calcium channel blocker , voltage dependent calcium channel , pharmacology , t type calcium channel , doxorubicin , chemistry , nifedipine , endocrinology , biophysics , biology , medicine , chemotherapy
Using a model of doxorubicin‐resistant rat glioblastoma cells, we have studied the relationship between the reversal of multi‐drug resistance by verapamil and calcium fluxes into the cells. Although it is known to be a voltage‐dependent calcium channel blocker, verapamil exerted no effect on calcium entry into the cells. In the absence of calcium in the medium, drug resistance was not affected and verapamil was still active. It was possible to modify calcium fluxes into the cells by using manganese ions (decreasing calcium uptake) or the calcium ionophore A23187 (increasing calcium uptake). These agents had only a marginal effect on the expression of drug resistance by the cells and did not prevent the action of verapamil on its reversal.