Nuclear protein matrix as a target for estramustine-induced cell death.

The effect of estramustine [estradiol 3-N-bis(2-chloroethyl)carbamate] on the human prostatic tumor cell line 1013L was investigated. Cell proliferation experiments revealed that estramustine cytotoxicity varied during the different phases of cell growth. Maximum cell killing was found in early log phase, but cell death also occurred in the stationary phase. Mitotic arrest was found at cytotoxic concentrations throughout the log phase. Subcellular distribution studies showed that the cellular uptake of estramustine increased throughout the log phase and remained steady during the stationary phase. Nuclear uptake in contrast was similar in all phases, whereas a preferential binding to the nuclear protein matrix was found to increase throughout the log phase and even during the stationary phase of growth. This implicates the nuclear protein matrix as a target for estramustine cytotoxicity.