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DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1073139
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York
Comparative Effects of Chemotherapeutic Agents on the Growth and Survival of Human Adrenal Carcinoma Cells in Culture
Publication History
received 02.10.2007
accepted 12.10.2007
Publication Date:
19 May 2008 (online)
![](https://www.thieme-connect.de/media/hmr/200805/lookinside/thumbnails/10.1055-s-2008-1073139-1.jpg)
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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Correspondence
Dr. J.W. Brown
Adrenal Research Laboratory (151)
V. A. Medical Center
1201 N. W. 16th St.
Miami
33125 Florida
USA
Phone: +1/305/324 4455 (Extn 4487)
Fax: +1/305/575 3126
Email: j.brown@miami.edu