Induction of iodide uptake in transformed thyrocytes: a compound screening in cell lines.

PURPOSE: Retinoic acid presently is the most advanced agent able to improve the efficacy of radioiodine therapy in differentiated thyroid carcinoma. In order to identify compounds with higher efficacy a panel of pharmacologically well-characterized compounds with antitumour action in solid cancer cell lines was screened.

METHODS

The effects of the compounds on iodide uptake, cell number, proliferation and apoptosis were evaluated.

RESULTS

In general, compounds were more effective in cell lines derived from more aggressive tumours. The effectiveness in terms of number of responsive cell lines and maximal increase in iodide uptake achieved decreased in the order: APHA > valproic acid approximately sirolimus approximately arsenic trioxide > retinoic acid approximately lovastatin > apicidine approximately azacytidine approximately retinol approximately rosiglitazone approximately bortezomib.

CONCLUSION

We hypothesize that testing of cells from primary tumours or metastases in patients may be a way to identify compounds with optimum therapeutic efficacy for individualized treatment.