Abrogated energy-dependent uptake of cisplatin in a cisplatin-resistant subline of the human ovarian cancer cell line IGROV-1

Abstract

The parental IGROV-1 human ovarian adenocarcinoma cell line was intermittently exposed to increasing concentrations of cisplatin to obtain resistant sublines. A stable resistant subline with a resistance factor of 8.4 had been developed after 9 months and 28 passages, which was denoted IGROV_CDDP. A high correlation coefficient of 0.97 was found between the log cell survival and the DNA-adduct peak level during the process of resistance development. IGROV_CDDP was strongly cross-resistant to carboplatin and doxorubicin and moderately cross-resistant to etoposide, docetaxel, and topotecan. Only minor resistance against 5-fluorouracil was observed, whereas IGROV_CDDP was not cross-resistant to methotrexate. Intracellular accumulation of cisplatin was 65% lower in IGROV_CDDP as compared with parental IGROV-1 at 37  °C under normal conditions. Coincubation of cisplatin with the Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase inhibitor ouabain resulted in a more pronounced decrease in platinum accumulation in IGROV-1 (44% decrease) than in IGROV_CDDP (26% decrease). Under energy-depleting conditions the accumulation of cisplatin in the parental cell line was approximately 60% lower than that observed under normal (energy [i.e., ATP] rich) culture conditions. In contrast, the accumulation in IGROV_CDDP was not affected by ATP-depletion. There appeared to be no significant difference between the intracellular accumulation of platinum in the resistant and sensitive cells under conditions of energy deprivation or when the uptake was studied at 0  °C. In conclusion, abrogation of energy-dependent accumulation in IGROV_CDDP seems to be a major mechanism of resistance to cisplatin in this cell line.