Interaction of human serum albumin with anticancer agents in vitro

The influence of human serum albumin (HA) on the biological effects of 13 chemotherapeutic agents was studied in vitro in the human leukaemia cell line MOLT-3. On the basis of changes in biological activity influenced by HA, these drugs may be divided into three types. Type I agents include cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II), 4'-(9-acridinylamino)methanesulphon-m-anisidide, neocarzinostatin, nitrogen mustard, adriamycin, daunorubicin and mitomycin C--drugs whose biological activities are reduced in the presence of HA. The biological activities of Type II drugs (cytosine arabinoside, fluorouracil and actinomycin D) are not influenced by HA. The biological activities of Type III drugs (bleomycin, vincristine and vinblastine) are increased in the presence of HA. These results indicate that serum HA interferes in vitro with certain anticancer agents in terms of biological activity and, probably, clinical effectiveness. HA-drug interaction may be a major factor governing the pharmacology of Type I anticancer agents in man.