CI-973, a new platinum derivative with potential antileukemic activity.

We examined the effects of CI-973 (supplied by Parke-Davis) on several human leukemia cell lines and a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) line and their drug-resistant counterparts. The cell lines used were HL-60, HL-60/mAMSA, HL-60/DOX, KBM3, KBM3/mAMSA 6, KBM3/mAMSA 6(85), CHO, and CHO/AC-7. DOX, mAMSA, and AC-7 indicate resistance to doxorubicin, amsacrine, or 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine, respectively. Cells were incubated with CI-973, and the effect was evaluated by two methods: growth inhibition assay and inhibition of colony formation. All cell lines examined were inhibited by CI-973; two of three amsacrine-resistant lines and the one cytarabine-resistant line demonstrated collateral sensitivity. At equivalent dosages, a 4-day exposure provided much greater cell kill than a 1-h exposure. Clonogenic assay showed exponential killing over 3 log units. Maximum CI-973 levels required to kill 50% of cells were 10-fold lower than the peak plasma levels achieved in a phase I solid tumor study. A continuous infusion phase I study in acute leukemia has been initiated.