Differential sensitivities of recombinant human topoisomerase IIalpha and beta to various classes of topoisomerase II-interacting agents.

A series of topoisomerase-interacting antitumour agents were tested for their ability to differentially inhibit the catalytic activity of either topoisomerase (TOPO) IIalpha or beta, as judged by a DNA decatenation assay. The alpha form, relative to the beta isoform, proved 1 to 3 times more sensitive to nonintercalating complex-stabilizing TOPO II-interacting agents (etoposide and derivatives) and up to 18 times more sensitive to non-complex-stabilizing inhibitors of TOPO II ((+/-)-1,2-bis(3,5-dioxopiperazinyl-1-yl)propane [ICRF 159] and meso-2,3-bis(3,5-dioxopiperazine-1-yl)butane [ICRF 193]). However, the beta form of the enzyme appeared 1 to 3 times more sensitive to intercalating TOPO II-interacting agents (daunorubicin, aclarubicin and mitoxantrone). A possible implication of these data are that tumours preferentially expressing either the alpha or the beta isoform may be differentially responsive to various classes of TOPO II-interacting agents.