Reversal of breast cancer resistance protein-mediated drug resistance by estrogen antagonists and agonists

Mol Cancer Ther. 2003 Jan;2(1):105-12.

Abstract

Breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), an ATP-binding cassette transporter, confers resistance to a series of anticancer agents such as SN-38, mitoxantrone, and topotecan. In a previous study, we found that estrogens reverse drug resistance of BCRP-expressing cells. In this study, estrogen antagonists, estrogen agonists, and their derivatives were evaluated for BCRP-reversing activity. First, compounds were tested for effects on the cellular accumulation of topotecan in BCRP-transduced K562 cells (K562/BCRP). Next, these compounds were examined for their ability to reverse SN-38 and mitoxantrone resistance in K562/BCRP cells. Among commercially available estrogen antagonists and agonists tested, diethylstilbestrol showed the strongest BCRP-reversing activity. Diethylstilbestrol increased the cellular accumulation of topotecan and reversed drug resistance in K562/BCRP cells but showed marginal or no effect in parental K562 cells. The reversal activities of estrone and diethylstilbestrol were more prominent for mitoxantrone than for SN-38. Tamoxifen and toremifene were also found to enhance topotecan uptake in K562/BCRP cells. Next, various tamoxifen derivatives were screened for anti-BCRP activity. In the first cycle of screening with 14 compounds, TAG-11 showed the strongest effect. In the second cycle of screening of 25 TAG-11-related compounds, TAG-139 showed the strongest effect. Reversal of SN-38 and mitoxantrone resistance in K562/BCRP cells by TAG-139 was 5-fold stronger than that by estrone. Dose-dependent characteristics of drug resistance reversal with estrone and TAG-139 were very similar, suggesting that estrone and tamoxifen derivatives interact with the same drug-binding site of BCRP. Derivatives of antiestrogens that exhibit no other biological effects promise to be useful in overcoming BCRP-mediated drug resistance.

MeSH terms

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / metabolism
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / metabolism*
  • Biological Transport / drug effects
  • Breast Neoplasms
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Diethylstilbestrol / pharmacology
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Estrogen Antagonists / toxicity*
  • Estrogens / pharmacology*
  • Estrone / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • K562 Cells
  • Kinetics
  • Mitoxantrone / pharmacokinetics
  • Mitoxantrone / toxicity
  • Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins / metabolism
  • Neoplasm Proteins*
  • Tamoxifen / pharmacology
  • Topotecan / pharmacokinetics
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • ABCG2 protein, human
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters
  • Estrogen Antagonists
  • Estrogens
  • Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Tamoxifen
  • Estrone
  • Diethylstilbestrol
  • Topotecan
  • Mitoxantrone
  • multidrug resistance-associated protein 1