Research Area: Cancer
Biological Activity:
Two subclones of the OCI/AML-2 cell line, etoposide-sensitive (ES) and etoposide-resistant (ER) were used to investigate whether the Fas pathway is involved in etoposide-induced apoptosis in acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML). Both of the studied subclones expressed the Fas receptor (FasR), but only the ER cell line expressed the Fas ligand (FasL). Etoposide caused an increase in the mean fluorescence intensity of FasR in both subclones, and an induction of FasL in the ES subclone. However, no change in the numbers of apoptotic cells induced by etoposide was observed when FasR was blocked by an antagonist anti-Fas antibody, nor was an agonist anti-Fas antibody alone cytotoxic to the subclones or enhanced the cytotoxic effect of etoposide. [1]Etoposide phosphate is rapidly absorbed and converted to etoposide. Bioavailability averages 68% at doses up to 150 mg/m2/day. [3]