Ro-11-2933

The effectiveness of a calcium antagonist analog Ro11-2933 to modulate doxorubicin (DOX) response in DOX-sensitive (WT) and -resistant (DOXr, 200-fold) cell lines was investigated and compared to verapamil (VP) in vitro and in vivo in rats bearing mammary carcinoma using equivalent nontoxic doses. In vitro exposure to a nontoxic concentration of Ro11-2933 (2 microM) normalizes the DOX accumulation defect observed in DOXr cells, increases DOX-induced DNA single-strand breaks and effectively sensitizes DOXr cells to DOX. Ten microM VP was required to obtain an effect equivalent to that seen with 2 microM Ro11-2933. Intravenous administration of DOX at 5 mg/kg to the rat bearing the DOXr tumors has no significant therapeutic effect on tumor growth (P > .5), whereas it was found effective in inhibiting the growth of WT tumors (P < .05). Ro11-2933 or VP administered alone has no significant effect on tumor growth as compared to a saline-treated group (P > .1). Combination of Ro11-2933 with DOX effectively inhibits DOXr tumor growth as compared to DOX alone. Combination of DOX with VP was found less effective than Ro11-2933 and the results were not statistically significant from DOX treatment alone (P > .5). Our data demonstrate that Ro11-2933 is well tolerated after i.v. administration and an effective modulator of DOX resistance in a solid tumor model.

An Aotus-Plasmodium falciparum model was used to determine if chloroquine resistance could be reversed in vivo. The putative resistance modulators tested all reverse chloroquine resistance in vitro and included verapamil, chlorpromazine, prochlorperazine, cyproheptadine, ketotifen, a tiapamil analog (Ro 11-2933), and a chlorpromazine analog (SKF 2133-A). Combinations of chloroquine plus chlorpromazine or prochlorperazine confirmed reversal of chloroquine resistance as exhibited by cures obtained in six Aotus monkeys infected with chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum (Vietnam Smith/RE strain) and rapid clearance of parasitemia, followed by recrudescence in six additional monkeys. The results indicate the following order of in vivo efficacy for reversing chloroquine resistance in Aotus: chlorpromazine > prochlorperazine >> desipramine >> Ro 11-2933 (tiapamil analog) > ketotifen. Cyproheptadine and verapamil were not effective in reversing chloroquine resistance and probable drug toxicity was observed with these drugs in combination with chloroquine.