Open AccessCepharanthine potently enhances the sensitivity of anticancer agents in K562 cells
Author(s) -
Ikeda Ryuji,
Che XiaoFang,
Yamaguchi Tatsuya,
Ushiyama Mina,
Zheng ChunLei,
Okumura Hiroshi,
Takeda Yasuo,
Shibayama Yoshihiko,
Nakamura Kazuo,
Jeung HeiCheul,
Furukawa Tatsuhiko,
Sumizawa Tomoyuki,
Haraguchi Misako,
Akiyama Shinichi,
Yamada Katsushi
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
cancer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.035
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1349-7006
pISSN - 1347-9032
DOI - 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2005.00057.x
Subject(s) - k562 cells , pharmacology , sensitivity (control systems) , cancer research , medicine , chemistry , leukemia , electronic engineering , engineering
A major impediment to cancer treatment is the development of resistance by the tumor. P‐glycoprotein (P‐gp) and multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1) are involved in multidrug resistance. In addition to the extrusion of chemotherapeutic agents through these transporters, it has been reported that there are differences in the intracellular distribution of chemotherapeutic agents between drug resistant cells and sensitive cells. Cepharanthine is a plant alkaloid that effectively reverses resistance to anticancer agents. It has been previously shown that cepharanthine is an effective agent for the reversal of resistance in P‐gp‐overexpressing cells. Cepharanthine has also been reported to have numerous pharmacological effects besides the inhibition of P‐gp. It has also been found that cepharanthine enhanced sensitivity to doxorubicin (ADM) and vincristine (VCR), and enhanced apoptosis induced by ADM and VCR of P‐gp negative K562 cells. Cepharanthine changed the distribution of ADM from cytoplasmic vesicles to nucleoplasm in K562 cells by inhibiting the acidification of cytoplasmic organelles. Cepharanthine in combination with ADM should be useful for treating patients with tumors. ( Cancer Sci 2005; 96: 372–376)