Preferential killing of multidrug-resistant KB cells by inhibitors of glucosylceramide synthase
1999
Killing Drug-Resistant Cancer Cells with Specific Inhibitors
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Nicholson K M, Quinn D M, Kellett G L, Warr J R
Primary Institution: Department of Biology, University of York
Hypothesis
Can inhibitors of glucosylceramide synthase preferentially kill multidrug-resistant KB cells compared to drug-sensitive cells?
Conclusion
Inhibitors of glucosylceramide synthase caused significantly more apoptosis in multidrug-resistant KB cells than in drug-sensitive cells.
Supporting Evidence
- The inhibitors caused much greater induction of apoptosis in multidrug-resistant cell lines than in the drug-sensitive cell line.
- The highest level of apoptosis was observed after 24 hours of treatment with 5 μM PPPP.
- The study suggests that manipulating glucosylceramide levels may help in preferentially killing multidrug-resistant cells.
Takeaway
The study found that certain drugs can kill cancer cells that are usually resistant to treatment better than they kill regular cancer cells.
Methodology
The study compared the effects of two glucosylceramide synthase inhibitors on three multidrug-resistant KB cell lines and one drug-sensitive cell line.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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