Antitumour effect of MX2, a new morpholino anthracycline against C6 glioma cells and its cytotoxic effect in combination with photodynamic therapy

Abstract

MX2, a novel lipophilic morpholino anthracycline, has been reported to have superior chemotherapeutic effects to Adriamycin (ADM) against murine and human tumour cells. In this study the chemotherapeutic effect of MX2 against C6 glioma cells in vitro and in vivo was examined as well as the photocytotoxicity of MX2 and the combination effect of MX2 and photodynamic therapy (PDT) in vitro. The drug concentration required for 50% inhibition of cell growth (IC50) of MX2 for C6 glioma cells was 6.5 ± 1.0 ng/ml, which was lower than for ADM and nitrosourea (ACNU). The growth of C6 glioma cells inoculated intracerebrally in mice was inhibited by intravenous (iv) injection of MX2 at doses ranging fr..