Pemetrexed  (Synonyms: 培美曲塞; LY231514)

AICARFT inhibition assays are carried out at room temperature by monitoring the formation of [6S]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrofolate from 10-formyl-[6R,S]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrofolate at A₂₉₈. All solutions are purged with N₂ gas prior to use. The reaction solution contains 33 mM Tris-Cl, pH 7.4, 25 mM KCl, 5 mM 2-Mercaptoethanol, 0.05 mM AICA ribonucleotide, and 16 nM (2 milliunits/mL) of AICARFT. 10-Formyl-[6R,S]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrofolate concentrations of 0.037, 0.074, and 0.145 mM are used (0.61, 1.23, and 2.45 times its K_m value, respectively). LY231514 is tested as an inhibitor at 0.08-0.8 mM (four concentrations). When the tri- and pentaglutamates of LY231514 are used as inhibitors, the concentrations are 0.0005-0.009 mM (eight concentrations). Enzyme assays are initiated by the addition of enzyme. Data is analyzed using the ENZFITTER program for competitive inhibition.

MCE has not independently confirmed the accuracy of these methods. They are for reference only.

Dose-response curves are generated to determine the concentration required for 50% inhibition of growth (IC₅₀). Pemetrexed is dissolved initially in DMSO at a concentration of 4 mg/mL and further diluted with cell culture medium to the desired concentration. CCRF-CEM leukemia cells in complete medium are added to 24-well Cluster plates at a final concentration of 4.8×10⁴ cells/well in a total volume of 2 mL. Test compounds at various concentrations are added to duplicate wells so that the final volume of DMSO is 0.5%. The plates are incubated for 72 h at 37°C in an atmosphere of 5% CO₂ in air. At the end of the incubation, cell numbers are determined on a ZBI Coulter counter. Control wells usually contain 4×10⁵ to 6×10⁵ cells at the end of the incubation. For several studies, IC₅₀s are determined for each compound in the presence of either 300 μM AICA, 5 μM thymidine, 100 μM hypoxanthine, or combination of 5 μM hymidine plus 100 μM hypoxanthine^[1].

MCE has not independently confirmed the accuracy of these methods. They are for reference only.

Mice^[2]
Female CBA mice and female NOD/SCID mice (NOD.CB17-Prkdc^scid) at 6-8 wk of age are used. Premetrexed (100 mg/kg) is given i.p. from days 4-8 (5 consecutive d) to tumor-bearing mice to explore the synergistic effect when combined with anti-CD25 Ab or IgG control. The dose and schedule used for Pemetrexed in the current study is determined based on previous studies in mice.

MCE has not independently confirmed the accuracy of these methods. They are for reference only.

• [1]. Shih C, et al. LY231514, a pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-based antifolate that inhibits multiple folate-requiring enzymes. Cancer Res. 1997 Mar 15;57(6):1116-23.  [Content Brief]

  [2]. Anraku M, et al. Synergistic antitumor effects of regulatory T cell blockade combined with pemetrexed in murine malignantmesothelioma. J Immunol. 2010 Jul 15;185(2):956-66.  [Content Brief]