C. Pacilio et al., Modification of membrane fluidity and depolarization by some anthracyclines in different cell lines, ANTICANC R, 18(6A), 1998, pp. 4027-4034
One of the major problems in cancer treatment is the progressive desensitiz
ation of cancer cells to chemotherapeutic drugs. Several hypotheses have be
en advanced to explain this property of cancer cells. In recent years diffe
rent calcium channel blockers and other chemosensitizing agents like synthe
tic progestins have been used to revert drug resistance. In our experiments
we evaluated the effects of Doxorubicin and Idarubicin on membrane fluidit
y and depolarization using normal lymphocytes, chronic lymphatic leukemia l
ymphocytes, normal breast and hormone dependent breast cancer cells and car
diomyocytes. The drugs were used alone or in combination with Verapamil and
Medroxyprogesterone acetate. We showed that MPA enhances DOXO and IDA bioc
hemical effects, acting nor only on the membrane lipid bilayer, but also on
ion channels. VERA instead does not seem to act through the same mechanism
.