The effect of DB-67, a lipophilic camptothecin derivative, on topoisomerase I levels in non-small-cell lung cancer cells

Purpose: To determine the in vitro drug sensitivity of two non-small-cell lung cancer cell lines after treatment with the novel lipophilic camptothecin derivative, 7-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (DB-67), to determine if topoisomerase I protein levels decrease after treatment with DB-67, and to assess the duration and extent of topoisomerase I modulation after DB-67 exposure, in order to provide information about drug resistance that may be useful in determining an appropriate dosing schedule for DB-67. Methods: The growth inhibition of the non-small-cell lung cancer cell lines A549 and H460 after exposure to DB-67 was evaluated with the MTS assay. A549 and H460 cells were treated for various times with DB-67 and topoisomerase I levels were determined by western blot analysis. In addition, A549 and H460 cells were treated with DB-67 for 24 h and topoisomerase I levels were determined by western blot analysis daily for 1 week after drug removal. Results: DB-67 inhibited the growth of both A549 and H460 cells grown in culture; the A549 cells were more resistant to the cytotoxic effects of DB-67 than H460 cells. Notably, A549 cells had approximately one-half the baseline topoisomerase I than H460 cells. Topoisomerase I protein levels significantly decreased after 8-18 h of exposure to DB-67. Both A549 and H460 cells treated with DB-67 for 24 h had only negligible amounts of topoisomerase I at the end of treatment. However, within 24 h of drug removal topoisomerase I levels returned to near baseline levels in both cell lines. Conclusions: The decrease in topoisomerase I levels caused by DB-67 may represent a mechanism of resistance to this novel camptothecin derivative. Dosing DB-67 once every 48-72 h may maximize the interaction of the drug with topoisomerase I and should be considered as a potential dosing schedule in the preclinical and clinical development of this compound.