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Complete Inhibition of Growth followed by Death of Human Malignant Melanoma Cells in Vitro and Regression of Human Melanoma Xenografts in Immunodeficient Mice Induced by Camptothecins¹

The Stehlin Foundation for Cancer Research, St. Joseph Hospital Cancer Research Laboratory, Houston, Texas 77003 [P. P., H. R. H., J. T. M., A. J. K., J. S. S., B. C. G.], and St. Joseph Hospital Department of Pathology, Houston, Texas 77002 [L. J. W.]

The plant alkaloid camptothecin and three camptothecin derivatives were used to study responses of human malignant melanoma (BRO) cells xenografted in immunodeficient (nude) mice. Camptothecin and its derivatives 9-nitro-20(S)-camptothecin and 9-amino-20(S)-camptothecin inhibited growth of tumors and caused regression in all tumor-bearing mice. Tumor regression was accompanied by degenerative changes in the tumor cells, as assessed by microscopic observations of histological sections prepared from the tumors. No toxic effects were observed in the drug-treated mice, with or without xenografts. In parallel experiments, camptothecin, 9-nitro-20(S)-camptothecin, and 9-amino-20(S)-camptothecin inhibited proliferation of BRO cells in vitro and resulted in dramatic morphological cellular changes comparable to those observed in the sections of solid tumors. The derivative 12-nitro-20(S)-camptothecin had no effect on BRO tumors or cell cultures. The difference between 9-nitro-20(S)-camptothecin and 12-nitro-20(S)-camptothecin is the position at which the NO₂ group is attached to the camptothecin molecule. In contrast to BRO melanoma cells, none of the camptothecin derivatives had any effect on cultured human melanocytes, the normal counterparts of melanoma cells. Taken together, the findings indicate that camptothecin and derivatives exert different effects on the growth and morphology of normal and malignant (BRO) melanocytes.

¹ This work was supported by funds from The Stehlin Foundation for Cancer Research and by NIH Grant PO1CA50529 (to B. C. G.).

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed.

Received 7/26/91. Accepted 5/ 1/92.

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