THE EFFECTS OF TERBIUM ON THE ACCUMULATION OF CISPLATIN IN HUMAN OVARIAN-CANCER CELLS

In this investigation, we report a relationship between the terbium (Tb3+) binding protein and the accumulation of cisplatin in human ovarian cancer cells. The number of Tb3+ binding sites in cisplatin-resistant C13* cells is significantly greater by 79% than those in cisplatin-sensitive 2008 cells. Exposure to Tb3+ also increased the cellular accumulation of cisplatin. The accumulation of cisplatin as a function of the Tb3+ concentration in the C13* cells (0.85%/mu M Tb3+) was significantly greater than the accumulation of cisplatin in 2008 cells with respect to Tb3+ (0.46%/mu M Tb3+). The number of Tb3+ binding sites in revertant RH4 cells was similar to that in 2008 cells. The RH4 cells were less sensitive to the stimulatory effects of Tb3+ than the C13* cells. Our results show that the Tb3+ binding protein correlates with cisplatin resistance, and the receptor binding of Tb3+ increases the accumulation of cisplatin in cisplatin-resistant cells.