Skip to main navigation Skip to search Skip to main content

Effects of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate on the activity of fluoropyrimidines against human leukemia (CCRF-CEM) cells

  • Enrico Mini
  • , Teresita Mazzei
  • , Marcella Coronnello
  • , Luciana Criscuoli
  • , Monica Gualtieri
  • , Piero Periti
  • , Joseph R. Bertino

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The growth inhibitory effects of 5-fluorouracil (FUra) or 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (FdUrd) combined with 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-CH3-H4PteGlu) were determined, as a function of time, dose, and sequence of exposure, on human T-Iymphoblast leukemia cells, CCRF-CEM. Synergistic inhibitory effects on cell growth were obtained when exponentially growing CCRF-CEM cells were exposed to 5-CH3-H4PteGlu (1-100 μM) for 4 hr and to FUra (250 μM) or FdUrd (0.5 μM) during the last 2 hr. Synergism was dependent on 5-CH3-H4PteGlu dose (100 > 10 > 1 μM) and did not occur at 0.1 μM. No clear dependence of synergism on sequence was observed with FUra and 5-CH3-H4PteGlu combinations (5-CH3-H4PteGlu → FUra, 5-CH3-H4PteGlu + FUra, or FUra → 5-CH3- H4PteGlu). With 5-CH3-H4PteGlu and FdUrd combinations, synergism was dependent on sequence of exposure (5-CH3-H4 PteGlu + FdUrd, 5-CH3-H4PteGlu → FdUrd were synergistic, but FdUrd → 5-CH3-H4 PteGlu was not). Thymidine (0.1 μM), added after drug treatment, substantially rescued CCRF-CEM cells from 5-CH3-H4PteGlu → FUra cytotoxicity. L-methionine (1500 mg/I) completely protected CCRF-CEM cells from enhanced cytotoxicity of the combination, 5-CH3-H4PteGlu-FdUrd. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the mechanism by which 5-CH3-H4PteGlu potentiates fluoropyrimidine cytotoxicity is the enhancement of complex formation between thymidylate synthase and 5-fluorodeoxyuridylate, as a consequence of an increase of intracellular levels of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate generated from 5-CH3-H4PteGlu. Also, enhanced stability of the complex in the presence of high levels of this folate coenzyme may contribute to the synergism observed. These data provide a rationale basis for further trials of folate coenzymes and fluoropyrimidine combinations in the clinic.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2905-2911
Number of pages7
JournalBiochemical Pharmacology
Volume36
Issue number18
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 15 1987
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Biochemistry
  • Pharmacology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Effects of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate on the activity of fluoropyrimidines against human leukemia (CCRF-CEM) cells'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this