Sensitivity of Hodgkin's lymphoma cell lines to the cell cycle inhibitor roscovitine.

BACKGROUND

The prognosis of patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) has improved in recent decades. However, not all patients can be cured and the development of alternative treatment strategies is necessary.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Gene expression in HL cell lines was analyzed using DNA microarrays and both conventional and quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Sensitivity of HL cell lines to the cell cycle inhibitor roscovitine was assessed in vitro.

RESULTS

All HL cell lines express high levels of cyclin D2. Treatment of HL cells with roscovitine induced cell death in some cell lines whereas other cell lines were resistant to roscovitine. Roscovitine-sensitive cell lines were characterized by expression of T-cell markers and expressed high levels of the unusual cytokine interleukin-26.

CONCLUSION

Roscovitine is a cytotoxic drug for a subpopulation of HL cells and might be an interesting agent for the treatment of patients with HL.