Recombinant Methioninase Synergistically Reverses High-docetaxel Resistance Developed in Osteosarcoma Cells

Background/aim: Docetaxel combined with gemcitabine is a second-line therapy for osteosarcoma, but its efficacy is limited by the development of docetaxel resistance. The aim of the present study was to determine whether recombinant methioninase (rMETase) could reverse docetaxel resistance developed in osteosarcoma cells.

Materials and methods: Docetaxel-resistant 143B (DTR-143B) osteosarcoma cells were established by treating the parental 143B cells to increasing docetaxel concentrations (0.14-24 nM) over 5 months. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of docetaxel and rMETase as well as their combination on human osteosarcoma cells 143B and DTR-143B were determined. Four groups were analysed in vitro: untreated control; docetaxel; rMETase; docetaxel plus rMETase.

Results: The IC₅₀ value of docetaxel for DTR-143B cells was 31.1 nM, compared to 4.38 nM for the parental 143B cells, a 7-fold increase. The combination of rMETase (0.53 U/ml) and docetaxel (4.38 nM) sensitized DTR-143B cells to docetaxel resulting in an inhibition of 73.7% compared to docetaxel alone (7.3%) or rMETase alone (54.6%) (p<0.05). rMETase thus increased the efficacy of docetaxel 10-fold on docetaxel-resistant osteosarcoma cells.

Conclusion: rMETase reversed docetaxel resistance of DTR-143B in vitro. The present results indicate the clinical potential of rMETase to overcome docetaxel resistance in osteosarcoma patients.