Multidrug-resistant acute leukemia cells are responsive to prolonged exposure of daunorubicin: implications for liposome-encapsulated daunorubicin.

We examined the cytotoxic effects of free daunorubicin (DNR) and liposome-encapsulated DNR on multidrug-resistant (MDR1) leukemia cells of patients with acute leukemias who had failed primary induction treatment that included DNR. This was analyzed ex-vivo with DNR concentrations and exposure times that normally can be achieved in-vivo for both drugs with induction treatment. The leukemic blasts of patients both with drug-resistant AML and drug-resistant ALL were, ex-vivo, very sensitive to DNR concentrations and exposure times that can be achieved in-vivo by liposome-encapsulated DNR. However, under identical conditions, free DNR and liposome-encapsulated DNR had a similar cytotoxic profile, arguing against a unique mechanism of cytotoxicity by the liposomal constructure. These data suggest that liposome-encapsulated DNR may be preferable to free DNR for the treatment of acute leukemias.