Abstract
The effect of calcium antagonist verapamil on the uptake and efflux of Etoposide (VP16), a semi-synthetic derivative of podophylotoxin and a broad spectrum antineoplastic agent, has been investigated and compared in sensitive (UM- UC-2) and resistant (UM-UC-9) human bladder cancer cells, and L1210 leukemia cells, by using both radioisotope (3[H]-VP16) liquid scintillation and high performance liquid chromatography assay with electrochemical detection. The uptake of VP16 was rapid in all three cell lines, showing an initial rapid linear phase followed by a second slower phase, but at steady state the ratios of intracellular to extracellular VP16 concentrations were only 0.004 -0.006. No significant difference in drug uptake was observed in sensitive UM-UC-2 and resistant UM-UC-9 cells at all concentrations studied. Verapamil at a concentration of 10 μM enhanced the intracellular VP-16 levels in all sensitive and resistant cell lines. The increments were 21.5% for UM-UC-2, 11.8% for UM-UC-9, and 31.0% for L1210 cells after 30 minutes incubation with 1 μM VP16. A slower efflux of VP16 was observed in verapamil treated cells in all three cell lines. There was a small increase in the nonexchangeable components in verapamil treated cells, although only 5-10% of VP16 was retained.
No peak other than that of VP16 was detected in the HPLC chromatogram of extracts from both cell pellet and influx or efflux medium.
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