Abstract

P-glycoprotein (Pgp), a membrane drug efflux pump, is thought to be responsible for the observed drug resistance in osteosarcoma. We have recently developed Pgp-positive, multidrug resistant (MDR) murine osteosarcoma cell lines, which may be suitable models for the study of drug resistance in osteosarcoma. In this study, we investigated the effect of a newly synthesized quinoline compound, MS-209, on the reversal of doxorubicin (DOX) resistance in these cell lines. Three different types of resistance modifying agents (RMAs) as well as MS-209 were studied. These included the calcium channel blocker verapamil, and the immunosuppressive agents cyclosporin A and FK506. The reversal effects of the RMAs on DOX resistance were assessed by the MTT assay. In the absence of RMAs, the MDR osteosarcoma cells were 20-fold more resistant to DOX than the parental cells. When MS-209 was added at a final concentration of 0.1 to 3 microM to the MDR cells, 3-to 74-fold sensitization was observed. A complete reversal (37-fold sensitization) of the resistance was obtained at 1 microM MS-209. This concentration of MS-209 was 3-, 8- and 28-fold more effective than the same concentration of FK506, verapamil and cyclosporin A, respectively. These results indicate that MS-209 may be a more effective RMA, and that DOX resistance in osteosarcoma cells could be reversed by comparatively low doses of MS-209.