Cross-resistance of vincristine-resistant sublines of P388 leukemia to mitoxantrone with special emphasis on the relationship between in vitro and in vivo cross-resistance.

In vitro and in vivo cross-resistance to mitoxantrone of two vincristine-resistant sublines of P388 leukemia with different degrees of resistance in vitro was compared with that to adriamycin. A subline with a lower degree of resistance to vincristine exhibited approximately the same responses in vivo to mitoxantrone and adriamycin as the original P388 leukemic cell line, although it was evidently cross-resistant in vitro to these agents. Another subline having a higher degree of resistance to vincristine showed a 25-fold cross-resistance in vitro and gave no response in vivo to adriamycin. With mitoxantrone, on the other hand, this subline was solidly resistant as compared with the sensitive line but still retained significant responsiveness in vivo irrespective of a 150-fold cross-resistance in vitro. These results suggest that cross-resistance on a cellular basis does not necessarily correspond to in vivo cross-resistance. The relationship between in vitro and in vivo cross-resistance is discussed.