Mechanisms of sensitivity and natural resistance to antifolates in a methylcholanthrene-induced rat sarcoma Journal Article


Authors: Li, W. W.; Lin, J. T.; Schweitzer, B. I.; Bertino, J. R.
Article Title: Mechanisms of sensitivity and natural resistance to antifolates in a methylcholanthrene-induced rat sarcoma
Abstract: A methylcholanthrene-induced rat sarcoma that can be propagated in vitro or in vivo was evaluated for resistance to antifolates and was found to be relatively resistant to methotrexate and 10-ethyl-10-deazaaminopterin but sensitive to trimetrexate. Rat sarcoma cell extracts contained low levels of dihydrofolate reductase activity, the target enzyme of methotrexate, and inhibition of this enzyme by these three antifolates was similar. Transport studies showed poor uptake of both methotrexate and 10-ethyl-10-deazaaminopterin. In contrast, trimetrexate achieved high intracellular levels. The poor uptake of methotrexate was not due to lack of polyglutamylation. Thus, the basis for natural resistance to methotrexate and 10-ethyl-10-deazaaminopterin, compared with trimetrexate, in this rat sarcoma cell line was due to decreased transport of these drugs.
Keywords: human cell; nonhuman; methotrexate; animal cell; animal; drug resistance; tumor cells, cultured; sarcoma; drug uptake; rat; rats; drug metabolism; dihydrofolate reductase; folic acid antagonists; tetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase; drug sensitivity; leucovorin; aminopterin; sarcoma, experimental; trimetrexate; polyglutamic acid; methylcholanthrene; edatrexate; human; priority journal; article; support, non-u.s. gov't; support, u.s. gov't, p.h.s.
Journal Title: Molecular Pharmacology
Volume: 40
Issue: 5
ISSN: 0026-895X
Publisher: The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics  
Date Published: 1991-11-01
Start Page: 854
End Page: 858
Language: English
PUBMED: 1719370
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Source: Scopus
Citation Impact
MSK Authors
  1. Weiwei Li
    63 Li
  2. Joseph Bertino
    363 Bertino
  3. James T. Lin
    14 Lin