Growth-inhibitory properties of novel anthracyclines in human leukemic cell lines expressing either Pgp-MDR or at-MDR.

The objective of the experiments reported in this paper was the identification of promising anthracycline analogs on the basis of lack of cross-resistance against tumor cells presenting either P-glycoprotein multidrug resistance (Pgp-MDR) or the altered topoisomerase multidrug resistant (at-MDR) phenotype. Differently modified anthracycline analogs known to be active against MDR cells were assayed in vitro against CEM human leukemic cells, and the sublines CEM/VLB100 and CEM/VM-1 exhibiting respectively the Pgp-MDR and the at-MDR phenotype. Two classes of molecules, in which the -NH2 group in C-3' position is substituted with a morpholino, methoxymorpholino (morpholinyl-anthracycline), or an alkylating moiety, present equivalent efficacy in the drug-sensitive and the two drug-resistant sublines. These results indicate that such molecules may exert their cytotoxic effect through a mode of action different from that of "classical" anthracyclines and is not mediated through topoisomerase II inhibition. Both molecules represent novel concepts in the field of new anthracyclines derivatives.