Charge-dependent Targeting: Results in Six Tumor Cell Lines

• Published in: Anticancer research 2004-05, Vol.24 (3A), p.1347-1351
• Main Authors: MARQUEZ, Marcela, NILSSON, Sten, LENNARTSSON, Lena, ZHAOXU LIU, TAMMELA, Teuvo, RAITANEN, Mika, HOLMBERG, Anders R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Cations; Cell Division - drug effects; Cell Line, Tumor; Dextrans - pharmacology; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Microscopy, Fluorescence; N-Acetylneuraminic Acid - metabolism; Neoplasms - drug therapy; Neoplasms - metabolism; Neoplasms - pathology; Tumors
• ISSN: 0250-7005; 1791-7530

Background: Many previous studies show that cell surface sialylation of malignant cells is enhanced compared to normal tissue. The carboxyl group of the sialic acid yields a negative surface charge of the tumor cells. This study investigates how tumor cell growth is affected when a cationic polymer is incubated with six different tumor cell lines. Materials and Methods: Cationic dextran (CatDex) was prepared by periodate oxidation and subsequent coupling of cationic sidegroups by reductive amination. A fluorimetric cytotoxicity assay (FMCA) was used for the cell survival assay. Six different tumor cell lines (lung, breast, ovarian, prostate, colon, urinary bladder) were seeded into 96-well microtiter plates. CatDex was added at different μM concentrations and incubated for 72 h. Additionally, CatDex was fluorescence-labeled (FITC) and the interaction with the tumor cells was studied using fluorescence microscopy. The presence of sialic acid in the different cell lines was confirmed by using a FITC-labeled sialic acid binding lectin. Results: CatDex showed a concentration-dependent growth inhibitory effect (i.e. the number of cationic side groups/ dextran molecule and the molarity used). If the substitution was