Influence of dexniguldipine-HCl on rhodamine-123 accumulation in a multidrug-resistant leukaemia cell line: Comparison with other chemosensitisers

Abstract In the clinical therapy of cancer, resistance to many cytostatic drugs is a major cause of treatment failure. Among other mechanisms, the expression and pumping activity of P-glycoprotein (PGP) in the membrane of resistant cancer cells is responsible for the reduced uptake of cytostatics. The blockade or inhibition of PGP activity by chemosensitisers seems to be a tenable way to restore sensitivity to antineoplastic drugs and therapeutic efficacy. In the present work the influence of the new chemosensitiser dexniguldipine on rhodamine-123 accumulation in multidrug-resistant leukaemia cells was investigated. Dexniguldipine increases cellular rhodamine-123 accumulation dose-dependently. p ec 50 values (−log concentration of drug showing a half maximal effect) in accumulation studies are dependent on pH of the test system and are in the range of 6.5 (pH 7.2) to 7.2 (pH 8.0) for dexniguldipine. In comparison with other chemosensitisers such as SDZ PSC 833, cyclosporin A, verapamil, dipyridamole, quinidine and amiodarone, dexniguldipine is the most potent drug in this test system. In addition to equilibrium measurements of rhodamine-123 accumulation, efflux of rhodamine-123 was analysed in the absence and presence of chemosensitisers. A clear dose-dependency was seen and, moreover, a dramatic decrease in efflux rates was achieved in the presence of chemosensitisers. The described system can be used to investigate PGP-mediated drug transport on a pharmacological and biochemical basis.