Decreased cytotoxicity of 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine in 9L rat brain tumor cells pretreated with alpha-difluoromethylornithine in vitro.

The effect of pretreating 9L rat brain tumor cells in vitro with 10 mM alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an enzyme-activated, irreversible inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase, on the cytotoxicity of 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C) was investigated using a colony-forming assay. DFMO-mediated polyamine depletion significantly decreased the cytotoxicity of ara-C. The addition of putrescine to DFMO-pretreated cells replenishes intracellular polyamine levels and prevents the decrease in ara-C cytotoxicity. Flow cytometric analysis showed that cells treated with ara-C alone entered S phase semisynchronously within 8 hr after the end of treatment. This phenomenon was virtually eliminated by DFMO pretreatment. Addition of putrescine to DFMO-pretreated cells before treatment with ara-C prevented this DFMO-induced cell cycle kinetic effect.