PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - WEHBE-JANEK, HANIA
AU  - SHI, QIANG
AU  - KEARNEY, CHRISTOPHER M.
TI  - Cordycepin/Hydroxyurea Synergy Allows Low Dosage Efficacy of Cordycepin in MOLT-4 Leukemia Cells
DP  - 2007 Sep 01
TA  - Anticancer Research
PG  - 3143--3146
VI  - 27
IP  - 5A
4099  - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/27/5A/3143.short
4100  - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/27/5A/3143.full
SO  - Anticancer Res2007 Sep 01; 27
AB  - Background: Cordycepin requires the relatively toxic co-drug, deoxycoformycin, for full efficacy as an anti-cancer agent. We sought to improve cordycepin efficacy using other, less toxic co-drugs. Materials and Methods: We evaluated the ability of hydroxyurea (HU) to enhance the effects of cordycepin against MOLT-4 leukemia cells with the MTT cell viability assay. We determined the relationship of the combination drug treatment with CalcuSyn statistical analysis program according to the Chou-Talalay method. Results: HU (50 μg/ml) was found to reduce the IC50 of cordycepin from 100 μM to 0.3 μM, a reduction similar to that observed for deoxycoformycin. CalcuSyn analysis of the cordycepin/HU combination revealed the dose effect as synergistic. Further statistical analysis demonstrated a clear synergy between the two drugs at a range of dosages. Conclusion: HU was identified as a promising potential alternative for anti-cancer therapy with cordycepin, thus eliminating the need for the toxic deoxycoformycin. Copyright© 2007 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved