Quinine's Role in Overcoming Cancer Drug Resistance
Author Information
Author(s): B. Chauffert, H. Pelletier, C. Corda, E. Solary, L. Bedenne, D. Caillot, F. Martin
Primary Institution: Research Group on Digestive Cancers, INSERM U.252; Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, Dijon, France
Hypothesis
Can quinine enhance the effectiveness of anthracycline drugs in resistant colon cancer cells?
Conclusion
Quinine can safely enhance the cytotoxicity of epidoxorubicin in resistant colon cancer cells.
Supporting Evidence
- Quinine increased the cytotoxicity of epidoxorubicin in resistant cancer cells in vitro.
- Serum from patients treated with quinine showed enhanced accumulation of epidoxorubicin in cancer cells.
- Quinine was found to be less cardiotoxic compared to other resistance modifiers like quinidine and verapamil.
Takeaway
Quinine, a medicine for malaria, might help cancer drugs work better in patients whose cancer is resistant to treatment.
Methodology
The study involved treating DHD/K12 rat colon cancer cells with epidoxorubicin and quinine, and measuring drug accumulation in cells using fluorescence microscopy and HPLC.
Limitations
The study was conducted in vitro and may not fully represent in vivo conditions.
Participant Demographics
Patients included both males and females with various types of cancer, treated with quinine for anthracycline resistance.
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website