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Establishing Cell Lines Overexpressing DR3 to Assess the Apoptotic Response to Anti-mitotic Therapeutics
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2',2'-Difluorodeoxycytidine (gemcitabine) induces apoptosis in myeloma cell lines resistant to steroids and

J Gruber1, F Geisen, R Sgonc

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Innsbruck, Austria.

Stem Cells (Dayton, Ohio)
|May 1, 1996
PubMed

Insights

Gemcitabine effectively induces apoptosis in steroid-resistant multiple myeloma and plasma cell leukemia cell lines. This pyrimidine antagonist shows promise for treating these resistant cancers, unlike 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine.

Area of Science:

  • Hematology
  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Steroid-resistant multiple myeloma necessitates novel chemotherapeutic agents.
  • Existing treatments for multiple myeloma have limitations, driving research into alternative therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of gemcitabine and 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine (2-CdA) against steroid-resistant multiple myeloma and plasma cell leukemia cell lines.
  • To compare the apoptotic effects of gemcitabine and 2-CdA on cancer cells versus normal bone marrow progenitor cells.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro testing of gemcitabine and 2-CdA on multiple myeloma, plasma cell leukemia, and myeloid cell lines resistant to dexamethasone.
  • Assessment of apoptosis induction and cell growth inhibition at various drug concentrations and exposure times.

Main Results:

  • Gemcitabine significantly induced apoptosis in all tested myeloma and plasma cell leukemia lines, even at low concentrations and short exposure times.
  • 2-CdA failed to induce significant apoptosis in these cell lines but inhibited normal myeloid progenitor cells.
  • Gemcitabine demonstrated efficacy at clinically achievable concentrations without harming normal bone marrow progenitor cells.

Conclusions:

  • Gemcitabine is a potent inducer of apoptosis in gemcitabine- and steroid-resistant multiple myeloma and plasma cell leukemia.
  • Gemcitabine's selective toxicity profile supports its potential as a therapeutic agent for multiple myeloma.
  • Further clinical investigation, including Phase I trials, is warranted for gemcitabine in treating multiple myeloma.

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