Comparative Effects of Chemotherapeutic Agents on the Growth and Survival of Human Adrenal Carcinoma Cells in Culture

Abstract

Adrenocortical carcinoma is an uncommon malignancy that is usually fatal within a short time after diagnosis. We have investigated the effects on the growth and survival of SW-13 human adrenal carcinoma cells in culture of some currently used and some potentially new agents in the treatment of adrenal cancer. Established drugs tested were mitotane, cisplatin, etoposide, 5-fluorouracil, and suramin. Other agents studied included adenine arabinofuranoside, cytosine arabinofuranoside, 2-methoxyestradiol, and paclitaxel. The most potent chemotherapeutic agents in this system were paclitaxel and 2-methoxyestradiol, with EC₅₀ of 1.8×10^-8 and 3.3×10^-7 M, respectively. Cytosine arabinofuranoside and cisplatin both had the same EC₅₀ of 7.0×10^-7 M, and etoposide 1.1×10^-6 M. All the other agents tested required much higher doses for effect, including mitotane, the current most commonly used chemotherapy for adrenal cancer, with an EC₅₀ of 3.3×10^-4 M. These data suggest that paclitaxel, 2-methoxyestradiol, and cytosine arabinofuranoside should be further evaluated for their potential in the chemotherapy of adrenal carcinoma.

Key words

adrenal carcinoma - ara-c - 2-methoxyestradiol - mitotane - paclitaxel

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