Enhancement of paclitaxel activity against hormone-refractory prostate cancer cells in vitro and in vivo by quinacrine

Cytoplasmic phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) is known to be phosphorylated and activated by MAP kinase (Lin et al 1993, Cell 72: 269-278), an important downstream component of signal transduction, whereas paclitaxel has been shown to inhibit isoprenylation of ras proteins (Danesi et al 1995, Mol Pharmacol 47: 1106-1111). Given that quinacrine (Q), a PLA(2) inhibitor, and paclitaxel (P) might act at different sites in the cell signalling pathway, our aim was to test whether they were synergistic in combination against prostate cancer cells. Cell viability of PC-3, PC-3M and DU145 cells in 96 - well plates was assessed 96 h after drugs were added concurrently. Using Chou analysis, we demonstrated synergy for the combination against all three cell lines. Further, synergy was present under both conservative (mutually nonexclusive) and non-conservative (mutually exclusive) models. Studies in the nude mouse xenograft model support the finding of synergy in vitro. In DU145-bearing mice, Q (50 mg kg(-1)) and P (0.5 mg kg(-1)) given daily for 12 consecutive days, either concurrently or sequentially, was more effective than either drug alone, at twice the dose intensity. In an enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) apoptosis assay, arachidonic acid was able to partially reverse Q- and P-induced apoptosis, suggesting PLA(2) pathway involvement. Finally, the combination of lovastatin, another inhibitor of ras isoprenylation, and quinacrine had synergistic inhibitory effects on the growth of PC-3 cells in vitro, suggesting that the combination of these two classes of compounds might serve as an attractive therapeutic approach for prostate cancer.