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N-methylformamide as a potential therapeutic approach in colon cancer

  • Original Contributions
  • Published:
Diseases of the Colon & Rectum

Abstract

PURPOSE: The effect of N-methylformamide, used in combination with the antineoplastic drugs adriamycin and cisplatin, on the cell survival of a colon carcinoma cell line (HT-29) was investigated. To better understand the mechanism involved in N-methylformamide-mediated chemosensitization, we evaluated the N-methylformamide effect on cell volume and surface expression of some integrins molecules (VLA2, VLA5, and VLA6) of the HT-29 cell line. METHODS: The cell survival was evaluated by clonogenic assay; integrins surface expression was analyzed by means of flow cytometry; cell volumes were determined using a Coulter Channalyzer. RESULTS: A Noncytotoxic dose of N-methylformamide (170 mM) sensitizes the HT-29 cell line to the lethal activity of both adriamycin and cisplatin. The analysis of cell volume showed that N-methylformamide exposure induces an increase in cell volume. Flow cytometric analysis of VLA2, VLA5, and VLA6 receptors showed that N-methylformamide increases the expression of the three integrins by 30 to 40 percent. CONCLUSION: The plasma membrane could constitute one of the N-methylformamide targets and might be involved in the differentiation and chemosensitizing effects caused by this agent. Moreover,N-methylformamide could improve colon cancer treatment when used in combination with antineoplastic drugs.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Experimental Chemotherapy, Regina Elena Institute for Cancer Research, Via delle Messi d'Oro, 156, 00158, Rome, Italy

    Donatella Del Bufalo Ph.D., Barbara Bucci Ph.D. &  Gabriella Zupi Ph.D.

  2. The Biotechnologies Institute, CNR, Rome, Italy

    Igea D'Agnano Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Donatella Del Bufalo Ph.D.
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  2. Barbara Bucci Ph.D.
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  3. Igea D'Agnano Ph.D.
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  4. Gabriella Zupi Ph.D.
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Additional information

This work was supported by grants from Ministero delia Sanità and by CNR-ACRO Grant 9202370PF39.

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Del Bufalo, D., Bucci, B., D'Agnano, I. et al. N-methylformamide as a potential therapeutic approach in colon cancer. Dis Colon Rectum 37 (Suppl 2), S133–S137 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02048446

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