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Carrier-dependent and carrier-independent transport of anti-cancer alkylating agents

Nature volume 294, pages 281–283 (1981)Cite this article

Abstract

While it is understandable that proliferating cells should be more sensitive than resting cells to antimetabolites—drugs that derange DNA synthesis—it is not so obvious that other anti-cancer drugs, in particular the alkylating agents, should act in the same way1–3. The greater sensitivity of proliferating cells to such agents is not confined to malignant tissues: normal haematopoietic cells show increased susceptibility after recruitment into cell division4. Moreover, the various alkylating agents have different effects on proliferating nonmalignant cells; in normal bone marrow, recovery is more rapid5 and greater6 after treatment with some drugs (for example, cyclophosphamide and nitrogen mustard) than others (such as nitrosoureas and mitomycin C). We now provide evidence in support of the hypothesis that there are two distinct groups of alkylating agent: those whose uptake into the cell depends on a membrane transport mechanism (that is, carrier-dependent) and those whose uptake is not so dependent (carrier-independent).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Radiation Oncology, University of California Medical Center, San Diego, California, 92103, USA

    John E. Byfield & Paula M. Calabro-Jones

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  1. John E. Byfield
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  2. Paula M. Calabro-Jones
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Byfield, J., Calabro-Jones, P. Carrier-dependent and carrier-independent transport of anti-cancer alkylating agents. Nature 294, 281–283 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1038/294281a0

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