RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Antitumor Activity of 2′,3′-Dideoxycytidine Nucleotide Analog Against Tumors Up-Regulating DNA Polymerase β JF Molecular Pharmacology JO Mol Pharmacol FD American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics SP 553 OP 558 VO 60 IS 3 A1 Thierry Louat A1 Laurence Servant A1 Marie-Pierre Rols A1 Anne Bieth A1 Justin Teissie A1 Jean-Sebastien Hoffmann A1 Christophe Cazaux YR 2001 UL http://molpharm.aspetjournals.org/content/60/3/553.abstract AB DNA polymerase β (Pol β), an error-prone DNA-synthesizing enzyme tightly down-regulated in healthy somatic cells, has been shown to be overexpressed in many human tumors. In this study, we show that treatment with the 2′,3′-dideoxycytidine (ddC) nucleoside analog inhibited in vitro and in vivo the proliferation of Pol β-transfected B16 melanoma cells, which up-regulate Pol β compared with control isogenic cells. The administration of ddC also increased specifically the survival of mice bearing Pol β-overexpressing B16 melanoma. When the phosphorylated form of ddC was electrotransfered into Pol β-transfected melanoma, the cell growth inhibition was strengthened, strongly suggesting that the cytotoxic effect results from incorporation of the chain terminator into DNA. Using in vitro single- and double-stranded DNA synthesis assays, we demonstrated that excess Pol β perturbs the replicative machinery, favors ddC-TP incorporation into DNA, and consequently promotes chain termination. Therefore, the use of chain terminator anticancer agents could be suitable for the treatment of tumors with a high level of Pol β. The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics