The pH partition theory predicts the accumulation and toxicity of doxorubicin in normal and low-pH-adapted cells
1999

Doxorubicin and pH Levels in Cells

publication

Author Information

Author(s): Gerweck L E, Kozin S V, Stocks S J

Primary Institution: Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

Hypothesis

How does extracellular pH affect the accumulation and toxicity of doxorubicin in normal and low-pH-adapted cells?

Conclusion

Doxorubicin accumulation and toxicity increase with higher extracellular pH, but normal cells show more toxicity than low-pH-adapted cells at the same pH.

Supporting Evidence

  • Low-pH-adapted cells have different pH gradients compared to normal cells.
  • Doxorubicin's toxicity is more pronounced in normal cells at the same extracellular pH.

Takeaway

This study found that the acidity of the environment affects how much of a cancer drug, doxorubicin, can get into cells and how harmful it is to them.

Methodology

The study investigated doxorubicin's behavior in cells cultured under different pH conditions.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1038/sj.bjc.6690134

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