Trimetrexate inhibits progression of the murine 32Dp210 model of chronic myeloid leukemia in animals expressing drug-resistant dihydrofolate reductase

Expression of drug-resistant forms of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) in hematopoietic cells confers substantial resistance of animals to antifolate administration. In this study, we tested whether the chemoprotection conferred by expression of the tyrosine-22 variant DHFR could be used for more effective therapy of the 32Dp210 murine model of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Administration of the maximum tolerated dose of trimetrexate (TMTX) with the nucleoside transport inhibitor prodrug nitrobenzylmercaptopurine ribose-5′-monophosphate (NBMPR-P) inhibited 32Dp210 tumor progression in mice engrafted with transgenic tyrosine-22 DHFR marrow and improved survival of tumor-bearing animals as long as drug administration was continued. NBMPR-P coadministration was necessary for maximal tumor inhibition, as administration of TMTX alone delayed but did not prevent tumor progression. The chemoprotection afforded by engraftment with transgenic tyrosine-22 DHFR marrow was necessary for effective chemotherapy, as normal mice lacking transgenic marrow could not tolerate the higher TMTX dose (60 mg/kg/day) administered to mice with transgenic marrow, and the decreased dose of TMTX with NBMPR-P tolerated by normal tumor-bearing animals did not inhibit tumor progression or improve animal survival. We conclude that TMTX with NBMPR-P inhibits tumor progression in the 32Dp210 model of CML in animals engrafted with drug-resistant tyrosine-22 DHFR transgenic marrow, and that based on this model the introduction of a drug-resistant DHFR gene into marrow combined with TMTX and NBMPR-P administration may provide an effective treatment for CML.