To avoid the side effects of the anti-cancer drug doxorubicin (Dox), we conjugated this drug to a N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) copolymer backbone. Dox was conjugated via an amide bond (Dox-HPMA(AM), PK1) or a hydrazone pH-sensitive bond (Dox-HPMA(HYD)). In contrast to Dox and Dox-HPMA(HYD), Dox-HPMA(AM) accumulates within the cell's intracellular membranes, including those of the Golgi complex and endoplasmic reticulum, both involved in protein glycosylation. Flow cytometry was used to determine lectin binding and cell death, immunoblot to characterize the presence of CD7, CD43, CD44, and CD45, and high-performance anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detector analysis for characterization of plasma membrane saccharide composition. Incubation of EL4 cells with Dox-HPMA(AM) conjugate, in contrast to Dox or Dox-HPMA(HYD), increased the amounts of membrane surface-associated glycoproteins, as well as saccharide moieties recognized by peanut agglutinin, Erythrina cristagalli, or galectin-1 lectins. Only Dox-HPMA(AM) increased expression of the highly glycosylated membrane glycoprotein CD43, while expression of others (CD7, CD44, and CD45) was unaffected. The binding sites for galectin-1 are present on CD43 molecule. Furthermore, we present that EL4 treated with Dox-HPMA(AM) possesses increased sensitivity to galectin-1-induced apoptosis. In this study, we demonstrate that Dox-HPMA(AM) treatment changes glycosylation of the EL4 T cell lymphoma surface and sensitizes the cells to galectin-1-induced apoptosis.

• MeSH
• Amides chemistry   MeSH
• Leukosialin metabolism   MeSH
• Apoptosis MeSH
• Doxorubicin analogs & derivatives   pharmacology   MeSH
• Endoplasmic Reticulum metabolism   MeSH
• Galectin 1 metabolism   MeSH
• Glycosylation MeSH
• Golgi Apparatus metabolism   MeSH
• Polymethacrylic Acids pharmacology   MeSH
• Lymphoma, T-Cell drug therapy   metabolism   pathology   MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Cell Line, Tumor drug effects   MeSH
• Drug Carriers MeSH
• Cell Proliferation MeSH
• Antibiotics, Antineoplastic pharmacology   MeSH
• Flow Cytometry MeSH
• Blotting, Western MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Mice MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Amides MeSH
• Leukosialin MeSH
• doxorubicin-N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide copolymer conjugate MeSH Browser
• Doxorubicin MeSH
• Galectin 1 MeSH
• Polymethacrylic Acids MeSH
• Drug Carriers MeSH
• Antibiotics, Antineoplastic MeSH

PURPOSE: In vivo efficacy and safety of HPMA-based copolymers armed with doxorubicin via a spacer containing pH-sensitive linkage that can be prepared within a broad range of attached drug contents (1) was tested in murine tumor models. METHODS: Mice bearing T cell lymphoma EL4 or B cell lymphoma 38C13 were treated with a single dose of the conjugate (15, 25, and 75 mg Dox eq./kg i.v.) in a therapeutic regime. Anti-tumor resistance of the cured animals was proved by a second challenge with a lethal dose of tumor cells without additional treatment. RESULTS: The content of drug bound to the polymer is an important parameter in relation to the conjugate therapeutic efficacy. The best anti-tumor effects were produced by conjugates with 10 - 13 wt% of bound doxorubicin. Free doxorubicin up to 4.6% relative to total drug content had no impact on the treatment efficacy and acute toxicity. The conjugates induced a complete cure of mice and regular treatment-dependent development of specific anti-tumor resistance. No myelosuppression or organ damage was observed. CONCLUSIONS: A well-defined HPMA copolymer-doxorubicin conjugate with pH-sensitive drug release is a good candidate for clinical trials as it has remarkable anti-tumor efficacy and a favorable safety profile.

• MeSH
• Doxorubicin analogs & derivatives   chemical synthesis   pharmacokinetics   pharmacology   MeSH
• Immunomodulation drug effects   MeSH
• Hydrogen-Ion Concentration MeSH
• Polymethacrylic Acids chemical synthesis   pharmacokinetics   pharmacology   MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Cell Line, Tumor MeSH
• Drug Carriers chemical synthesis   pharmacokinetics   pharmacology   MeSH
• Polymers * chemical synthesis   pharmacokinetics   pharmacology   MeSH
• Cell Proliferation drug effects   MeSH
• Antibiotics, Antineoplastic pharmacokinetics   pharmacology   MeSH
• Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Male MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• doxorubicin-N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide copolymer conjugate MeSH Browser
• Doxorubicin MeSH
• Polymethacrylic Acids MeSH
• Drug Carriers MeSH
• Polymers * MeSH
• Antibiotics, Antineoplastic MeSH