Copper ions regulate cytotoxicity of disulfiram to myeloid leukemia cells

  • Authors:
    • Jarmila Navrátilová
    • Pavla Jungová
    • Petr Vanhara
    • Jan Preisler
    • Viktor Kanicky
    • Jan Smarda
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: November 1, 2009     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm_00000277
  • Pages: 661-670
Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

White blood cell (WBC) count is considered a prognostic risk factor in acute myeloid leukemia. As density of leukemic cells increases, the cytotoxic activity of certain anticancer drugs, such as vincristine and doxorubicin, progressively decreases. In this study, we investigated the cell density-dependent induction of apoptosis of human acute myeloid leukemia U937 and ML-1 cells by disulfiram (DSF), the dithiocarbamate drug recently proposed for treatment of human cancers. This effect is dependent on uptake of extracellular copper and its intracellular accumulation. High-density cells cannot uptake and accumulate this metal to a sufficient level that would allow induction of apoptosis due to progressive decrease of its extracellular concentration. Simple addition of copper can resume sensitivity of high-density leukemic cells to DSF and improve efficiency of anti-leukemic therapies using this drug, thus providing benefit to patients with high WBC count.

Related Articles

Journal Cover

November 2009
Volume 24 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1107-3756
Online ISSN:1791-244X

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Navrátilová J, Jungová P, Vanhara P, Preisler J, Kanicky V and Smarda J: Copper ions regulate cytotoxicity of disulfiram to myeloid leukemia cells. Int J Mol Med 24: 661-670, 2009
APA
Navrátilová, J., Jungová, P., Vanhara, P., Preisler, J., Kanicky, V., & Smarda, J. (2009). Copper ions regulate cytotoxicity of disulfiram to myeloid leukemia cells. International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 24, 661-670. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm_00000277
MLA
Navrátilová, J., Jungová, P., Vanhara, P., Preisler, J., Kanicky, V., Smarda, J."Copper ions regulate cytotoxicity of disulfiram to myeloid leukemia cells". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 24.5 (2009): 661-670.
Chicago
Navrátilová, J., Jungová, P., Vanhara, P., Preisler, J., Kanicky, V., Smarda, J."Copper ions regulate cytotoxicity of disulfiram to myeloid leukemia cells". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 24, no. 5 (2009): 661-670. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm_00000277