Effect of calcium channel blockers on the action of various antitumour agents in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

• Published in: Journal of Applied Bacteriology Vol. 81; no. 5; pp. 481 - 485
• Main Authors: Tiligada, E., Giannakakou, P., Karavokyros, I., Delitheos, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-11-1996; Blackwell
• Subjects: Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; Antineoplastic drugs. Cytokines; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Calcium Channel Blockers - pharmacology; Cell Survival; Diltiazem - pharmacology; Doxorubicin - pharmacology; Fluorouracil - pharmacology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Health. Pharmaceutical industry; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Production of active biomolecules; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - drug effects; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - growth & development; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - ultrastructure; Verapamil - pharmacology; Antineoplastic agent; Culture medium; Drug; Microorganism growth; Yeast; Cytotoxicity; Ionic channel; Doxorubicin; Fungi; Alkylating agent; Chemotherapy; Morphology; Minimum inhibitory concentration; Melphalan; Microorganism culture; Verapamil; Ascomycetes; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Viability; Thallophyta; Fluorouracil
• ISSN: 0021-8847; 2056-5232
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.1996.tb03536.x

The cytotoxic effects of a 22 h treatment with four antineoplastic agents in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATCC 2366 were investigated. Two agents, doxorubicin and 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU), were effective in decreasing the colony‐forming ability of yeast cells. Following examination under the light microscope, the effect of doxorubicin appeared to be, at least partially, due to killing of yeast cells whereas the effect of 5‐FU was rather due to changes in cell structure leading to abnormal bud formation. For amsacrine (AMSA) and melphalan, cytotoxicity was totally absent. In the presence of diltiazem the above described effects were not significantly changed. When verapamil was added in the culture medium the cytotoxic activity of doxorubicin and 5‐FU did not change. However, following treatment with AMSA in combination with verapamil, cell survival was significantly decreased whereas the presence of verapamil increased the yeast survival which was observed after melphalan treatment.