Inpharma 1229 - 18 Mar 2000

Chelerythrine shows promisingantitumour activity

The protein kinase C inhibitor chelerythrine ‘may be auseful antitumor agent’, report researchers from the US.

In a series of in vitro experiments, the researchersinvestigated the antitumour activity of chelerythrineagainst 9 human tumour cell lines. Chelerythrinedemonstrated cytotoxic activity in all tumour cell lines.

In a series of in vivo experiments, the researchersinoculated Sprague-Dawley nude mice with thep53-deficient radiotherapy- and chemotherapy-resistanthuman epidermoid cancer cell line SQ-20B. Micereceived intraperitoneal injections of chelerythrine 2.5mg/kg/day on days 8, 10 and 12 after tumourimplantation, chelerythrine 5 mg/kg/day on days 8, 10and 12 or on days 8, 11 and 14, or PBS on days 8, 10 and12 (controls).

Tumour growth was delayed in all chelerythrine,compared with PBS, recipients. In addition, throughoutthe study, bodyweights of chelerythrine recipients didnot fall below 90% of bodyweight at baseline. Notreatment-related deaths occurred.Chmura SJ, et al. In vitro and in vivo activity of protein kinase C inhibitorchelerythrine chloride induces tumor cell toxicity and growth delay in vivo.Clinical cancer research: an official journal of the American Association forCancer Research 6: 737-742, Feb 2000 800818517

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Inpharma 18 Mar 2000 No. 12291173-8324/10/1229-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved