Selective drug resistant human osteosarcoma cell lines.

Abstract

Chemotherapy in combination with surgery has been shown to be effective for the control of osteosarcoma. Development of resistance to chemotherapeutic agents is a recurring clinical problem. To investigate this phenomena, human osteosarcoma cells, TE-85, were exposed to increasing doses of Taxol or Taxotere during a 9-month period. Highly resistant subclones (TE-85TXL; TE-85TXR, respectively) were developed. Chemosensitivities are presented for TE-85 cell line and these new lines to Taxol, Taxotere, doxorubicin, cisplatin, and topotecan. Drug concentrations that inhibited cell growth by 50% compared with untreated cells were determined. The TE-85TXL cells showed resistance greater than 1,000-fold to Taxol and Taxotere and 60-fold to doxorubicin. The TE-85TXR cells showed resistance greater than 1,000-fold to Taxol, 800-fold to Taxotere, and 90-fold to doxorubicin. There was little cross resistance to topotecan and enhanced sensitivity to cisplatin. The role of P-170 glycoprotein in Taxol and Taxotere resistance was explored. Coincubation with verapamil, to block the actions of P-170 glycoprotein, partly reversed resistance to Taxol, Taxotere, and doxorubicin in both cell lines. Anti-P-170 glycoprotein antibodies revealed positive staining in TE-85TXL and TE-85TXR cell lines. Flow cytometry revealed reduced accumulation of doxorubicin in resistant cells. These data indicate that a human osteosarcoma cell line will develop resistance to Taxol and Taxotere, which is mediated in part by the P-170 glycoprotein.