Horm Metab Res 2008; 40(5): 302-305
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1073139
Original

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Comparative Effects of Chemotherapeutic Agents on the Growth and Survival of Human Adrenal Carcinoma Cells in Culture

M. Montoya 1 , 2 , J. W. Brown 1 , 2 , L. M. Fishman 1 , 2
  • 1Adrenal Research Laboratory, V. A. Medical Center, Miami, FL, USA
  • 2Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
Further Information

Publication History

received 02.10.2007

accepted 12.10.2007

Publication Date:
19 May 2008 (online)

Abstract

Adrenocortical carcinoma is an uncommon malignancy that is usually fatal within a short time after diagnosis. We have investigated the effects on the growth and survival of SW-13 human adrenal carcinoma cells in culture of some currently used and some potentially new agents in the treatment of adrenal cancer. Established drugs tested were mitotane, cisplatin, etoposide, 5-fluorouracil, and suramin. Other agents studied included adenine arabinofuranoside, cytosine arabinofuranoside, 2-methoxyestradiol, and paclitaxel. The most potent chemotherapeutic agents in this system were paclitaxel and 2-methoxyestradiol, with EC50 of 1.8×10-8 and 3.3×10-7 M, respectively. Cytosine arabinofuranoside and cisplatin both had the same EC50 of 7.0×10-7 M, and etoposide 1.1×10-6 M. All the other agents tested required much higher doses for effect, including mitotane, the current most commonly used chemotherapy for adrenal cancer, with an EC50 of 3.3×10-4 M. These data suggest that paclitaxel, 2-methoxyestradiol, and cytosine arabinofuranoside should be further evaluated for their potential in the chemotherapy of adrenal carcinoma.

References

  • 1 Nader S, Hickey RC, Sellin R, Samaan NA. Adrenal cortical carcinoma: A study of 77 cases.  Cancer. 1983;  52 707-711
  • 2 Slee PH, Schaberg A, Brummelen P Van. Carcinoma of the adrenal cortex causing primary hyperaldosteronism. A case report and review of the literature.  Cancer. 1983;  51 2341-2345
  • 3 Richie JP, Gittes RF. Carcinoma of the adrenal cortex.  Cancer. 1980;  45 1957-1964
  • 4 Bertherat J, Gimenez-Roqueplo AP. New insights in the genetics of adrenocortical tumors, pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas.  Horm Metab Res. 2005;  37 384-390
  • 5 Sandrini F, Villain DP, Tucci S, Moreira AC, Castro M de, Elias LL. Inheritance of R337H p53 gene mutation in children with sporadic adrenocortical tumor.  Horm Metab Res. 2005;  37 231-235
  • 6 Ueberberg B, Tourne H, Redman A, Walz MK, Schmid KW, Mann KW, Mann K, Petersenn S. Differential expression of the human somatostatin receptor subtypes sst1 to sst5 in various adrenal tumors and normal adrenal gland.  Horm Metab Res. 2005;  37 722-728
  • 7 Almeida MQ, Latronico AC. The molecular pathogenesis of childhood adrenocortical tumors.  Horm Metab Res. 2007;  39 461-466
  • 8 Kanczkowski W, Morawietz H, Ziegler CG, Funk RH, Schmitz G, Zacharowski K, Mohn CE, Ehrhart-Bornstein M, Bornstein SR. Pam3CSK4 and LTA-TLRs ligands associated with micodomains induce IL8 production in human adrenocortical cancer cells.  Horm Metab Res. 2007;  39 457-460
  • 9 Stratakis CA. Adrenocortical tumors, primary pigmented adrenocortical disease (PPNAD/Carney complex, and other bilateral hyperplasias: the NIH studies.  Horm Metab Res. 2007;  39 467-473
  • 10 Filipecki S, Feltynowski T, Poplawska W, Lapinska K, Krus S, Wocial B, Januszewicz W. Carcinoma of the adrenal cortex with hyperaldosteronism.  J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1972;  35 225-229
  • 11 Latronico A, Chrousos GP. Extensive personal experience: Adrenocortical tumours.  J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1997;  82 1317-1324
  • 12 Schteingart DE. Current perspective in the diagnosis and treatment of adrenocortical carcinoma.  Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2001;  2 323-333
  • 13 Rossmeisl Jr JH, Scott-Moncrieff JC, Siems J, Snyder PW, Wells A, Anothayanontha L, Oliver JW. Hyperadrenocorticism and hyperprogesteronemia in a cat with adrenocortical adenocarcinoma.  J Am Animal Hosp Assoc. 2000;  36 512-517
  • 14 Watanabe T, Yasuda T, Noda H, Wada K, Kazukawa I, Someya T, Minamitani K, Minagawa M, Wataki K, Matusnaga T, Ohunuma N, Kohno Y, Harada N. Estrogen secreting adrenal adenocarcinoma in an 18-month-old boy: Aromatase activity, protein expression, mRNA and utilization of gonadal type promoter.  Endocr J. 2000;  47 723-730
  • 15 Brown JW, Fishman LM. Biosynthesis and metabolism of steroid hormones by human adrenal carcinomas.  Braz J Med Biol Res. 2000;  33 1235-1244
  • 16 Shons AR, Gamble WG. Nonfunctioning carcinoma of the adrenal cortex.  Surg Gynecol Obstet. 1974;  138 705-709
  • 17 Terzolo M, Ali A, Osella G, Mazza E. Prevalence of adrenal carcinoma among incidentally discovered adrenal masses: A retrospective study from 1989 to 1994.  Arch Surg. 1997;  132 914-919
  • 18 Nelson AA, Woodward G. Severe adrenal cortical atrophy produced by feeding DDD.  Arch Pathol. 1949;  48 387-390
  • 19 Kasperlik-Zaluska AA, Migdalska BM, Zgliczynski S, Makowska AM. Adrenocortical carcinoma: A clinical study and treatment results of 52 patients.  Cancer. 1995;  75 2587-2591
  • 20 Luton JP, Cerdas S, Billaud L, Thomas G, Guilhaume B, Bertagna X, Laudat MH, Louvel A, Chapuis Y, Blondeau P. Clinical features of adrenocortical carcinoma, prognostic factors, and the effect of mitotane therapy.  N Engl J Med. 1990;  322 1195-1201
  • 21 Beragna C, Orth DN. Clinical and laboratory findings and results of therapy in 58 patients with adrenocortical tumors admitted to a single medical center (1951-1978).  Am J Med. 1981;  71 855-875
  • 22 Berruti A, Terzolo M, Paccotti P, Veglio F, Pia A, Dogliotti L, Angeli A. Favorable response of metastatic adrenal carcinoma to etoposide, adriamycin and cisplatin (‘EAP’) chemotherapy: Report of 2 cases.  Tumori. 1992;  78 345-348
  • 23 Berruti A, Terzolo M, Pia A, Angeli A, Dogliotti L. Mitotane associated with etoposide, doxorubicin, and cisplatin in the treatment of advanced adrenocortical carcinoma: Italian Group for the Study of Adrenal Cancer.  Cancer. 1998;  83 2194-2000
  • 24 Williamson SK, Lew D, Miller GJ, Balcerzak SP, Baker LH, Crawford ED. Phase II evaluation of cisplatin and etoposide followed by mitotane on disease progression in patients with locally advanced or metastatic adrenocortical carcinoma: A Southwest Oncology Group study.  Cancer. 2000;  88 1159-1165
  • 25 Schlumberger M, Ostronoff M, Bellaiche M, Rougier P, Droz JP, Parmentier C. 5-Fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and cisplatin regimen in adrenal cortical carcinoma.  Cancer. 1988;  61 1492-1494
  • 26 La Rocca RV, Stein CA, Danesi R, Jamis-Dow CA, Weiss GH, Myers CE. Suramin in adrenal cancer: Modulation of steroid hormone production, cytotoxicity in vitro, and clinical antitumor effect.  J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1990;  71 497-504
  • 27 Leibovitz A, MacCombs 3rd WM, Johnston D, MacCoy CE, Stinson JC. New human cancer cell culture lines. I. SW-13, small-cell carcinoma of the adrenal cortex.  J Natl Cancer Inst. 1973;  51 691-697
  • 28 Fallo F, Pilon C, Barzon L, Pistorello M, Pagotto U, Atavilla G, Boscaro M, Sonino N. Paclitaxel is an effective antiproliferative agent on the human NCIH295 adrenocortical carcinoma cell line.  Chemotherapy. 1998;  44 129-134
  • 29 Attalla H, Makela TP, Adelercreutz H, Andersson LC. 2-Methoxyestradiol arrests cells in mitosis without depolymerizing tubulin.  Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1996;  228 467-473
  • 30 D’Amato RJ, Lin CM, Flynn E, Folkman J, Hamel E. 2-Methoxyestradiol, an endogenous mammalian metabolite, inhibits tubulin polymerization by interacting at the colchicine site.  Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 1994;  91 3964-3968
  • 31 Tinley TL, Leal RM, Randall-Hlubek DA, Cessac JW, Wilkens LR, Rao PN, Mooberry SL. Novel 2-methoxyestradiol analogues with anti-tumor activity.  Cancer Res. 2003;  63 1538-1549
  • 32 Brown JW, Kesler CT, Neary JT, Fishman LM. Effects of androgens and estrogens and catechol and methoxy-estrogen derivatives on mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK1,2) activity in SW-13 human adrenal carcinoma cells.  Horm Metab Res. 2001;  33 127-130
  • 33 Brown JW, Kesler CT, Neary JT, Fishman LM. Effects of marine sponge extracts on mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK/ERK1,2) activity in SW-13 human adrenal carcinoma cells.  Toxicon. 2001;  39 1835-1839
  • 34 Brown JW, Cappell S, Perez-Stable C, Fishman LM. Extracts from two marine sponges lower cyclin B1 levels, cause a G2/M cell cycle block and trigger apoptosis in SW-13 human adrenal carcinoma cells.  Toxicon. 2004;  43 841-846
  • 35 Brown JW, Fishman LM, Carballeira A. Studies of the neuronal transdifferentiation process in cultured human pheochromocytoma cells: Effects of steroids with differing functional groups on catecholamine content and cell morphology.  Steroids. 1998;  63 587-594

Correspondence

Dr. J.W. Brown

Adrenal Research Laboratory (151)

V. A. Medical Center

1201 N. W. 16th St.

Miami

33125 Florida

USA

Phone: +1/305/324 4455 (Extn 4487)

Fax: +1/305/575 3126

Email: j.brown@miami.edu

    >