Selective treatment of SCID mice bearing methotrexate-transport-resistant human acute lymphoblastic leukemia tumors with trimetrexate and leucovorin protection

João F. Lacerda, Erdem Göker, Albert Kheradpour, Dieter Dennig, Yaroslav Elisseyeff, Catherine Jagiello, Richard J. O'Reilly, Joseph R. Bertino

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Impaired transport of methotrexate (MTX) is a common resistance mechanism of tumor cells to this drug. Trimetrexate (TMTX), a second-generation folate antagonist, is still active against MTX-transport-resistant cells because it enters cells by passive diffusion and does not use the reduced folate transport system for cell entry. Therefore, although leucovorin (LV) protects MTX-sensitive cells from TMTX toxicity, MTX-transport defective cells are poorly rescued by LV. Severe combined immunodeficiency mice bearing MTX- transport-resistant CCRF-CEM acute lymphoblastic leukemia tumors were treated with TMTX alone or with the combination of TMTX and LV, with tumor regressions in both groups (P < .001) and without significant toxicity. These results indicate that TMTX with LV protection may be a useful therapeutic regimen for patients with MTX-transport-defective acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Furthermore, resistance to TMTX plus LV may result in reversion to MTX sensitivity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2675-2679
Number of pages5
JournalBlood
Volume85
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - May 15 1995

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Immunology
  • Hematology
  • Cell Biology

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