TUMOR-CELL GROWTH IS INHIBITED BY SUPPRESSING METALLOTHIONEIN-I SYNTHESIS

The effect of metallothionein (MT)-I antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (O DN) on the growth of three kinds of tumor cells was studied, since MTs may be involved in cell growth. When MT-I antisense ODN was added to leukemia P388 cells, cell growth was inhibited in a manner dependent o n the dose and incubation time. MT-I antisense ODN was also inhibitory for other tumor cell lines, i.e. Ehrlich carcinoma and sarcoma 180. A significant decrease in the level of MT, but not of Zn, was observed in MT-I antisense ODN-treated cells. On the other hand, control ODN di d not inhibit the cell growth appreciably. These results indicate that MT-I expression may be necessary for the growth and survival of these tumor cells. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.