Reversal of natural resistance to bouvardin (NSC 259968) in sarcoma 180 cells in vitro and in vivo by verapamil.

Reversal of natural resistance to bouvardin (NSC 259968) has been attained in vitro and in vivo, by the calcium influx blocker verapamil in sarcoma 180 cells insensitive to bouvardin. Verapamil increased the in vitro lethality of the tumor cells following exposure with cells for 1 and 3 h as a result of the cytotoxic effect of bouvardin. Similar results were observed in vivo when the tumor cells were exposed to verapamil and then treated with bouvardin, showing a significant percent increase in the lifespan to 30% and 45%. This suggested that this calcium channel blocker had interacted with tumor cell membrane to modulate the response of the cells, and make them more amenable to the drug action.