A possible role for methotrexate in the treatment of childhood acute myeloid leukaemia, in particular for acute monocytic leukaemia

M. G. Rots, R. Pieters, G. Jansen, G. J.L. Kaspers, C. H. Van Zantwijk, P. Noordhuis, D. A. Voorn, E. R. Van Wering, U. Creutzig, A. J.P. Veerman, G. J. Peters

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Samenvatting

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is thought to be methotrexate (MTX)-resistant. However, a small study suggested that acute monocytic leukemia (AML-M5) is sensitive to MTX. We measured MTX accumulation/polyglutamylation in 20 AML-nonM5, 37 AML-M5 and 83 common/preB-acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (c/preB-ALL) samples. Membrane transport was determined in 11 childhood AMLs (including 3 AML-M5) and in 25 c/preB-ALL samples. MTX sensitivity was determined in 23 AML-nonM5, 15 AML-M5 and 63 common/preB-ALL samples using the thymidylate synthase (TS) inhibition assay. MTX transport was higher in AML samples compared with c/preB-ALL precluding a transport defect in AML. Accumulation of long-chain polyglutamates MTX-Glu4-6 was 3-fold lower for AML-nonM5 compared with c/preB-ALL cells (median 268 versus 889 pmol MTX-Glu4-6/109 cells; P ≤ 0.001); for AML-M5 samples, median accumulation of MTX-Glu4-6 was 0 pmol/109 cells (P ≤ 0.001). After short-term MTX exposure, AML-nonM5 was 6-fold more resistant to MTX compared with c/preB-ALL cells (2.16 versus 0.39 μM; P < 0.001), while AML-M5 was 2-fold more resistant (P = 0.02). In both AML-nonM5 and AML-M5 cells, MTX resistance was circumvented by continuous MTX exposure (median TSI50 values: 0.052 and 0.041 μM, respectively) compared with a c/preB-ALL value of 0.066 μM. In conclusion, AML-M5 is relatively sensitive to MTX compared with other AML-subtypes even though polyglutamylation of MTX is poor. Using continuous exposure, AML-nonM5 and AML-M5 cells were at least as sensitive to MTX as c/preB-ALL cells. This report suggests that MTX might be an overlooked drug in the treatment of childhood AML.

Originele taal-2Engels
Pagina's (van-tot)492-498
Aantal pagina's7
TijdschriftEuropean Journal of Cancer
Volume37
Nummer van het tijdschrift4
DOI's
StatusGepubliceerd - 2001
Extern gepubliceerdJa

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