Effects of cyclosporine and alpha-difluoromethylornithine on the growth of mouse colon cancer in vitro.

The growth and survival of mouse (MC-26) colon carcinoma in vitro and in vivo are significantly reduced by inhibitors of polyamine biosynthesis. alpha-Difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), is a specific and irreversible inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC); the rate-limiting enzyme in polyamine biosynthesis. DFMO treatment inhibits the growth of MC-26 colon cancer cells and decreases MC-26 cell survival both in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, we examined the effects of cyclosporine (CsA) on growth, survival, and polyamine levels in MC-26 colon cancer in vitro. CsA had inhibitory effects on MC-26 colon cancer growth which were similar to DFMO; these effects were blocked by the addition of the polyamine, putrescine. The combination of CsA (8.3 X 10(-4) mM) and DFMO (0.5 mM or 1.0 mM) inhibited MC-26 cell survival to a greater extent than either agent alone. These results suggest that CsA given in combination with other agents which inhibit polyamine synthesis may be useful for the treatment of colon cancer.