Effect of selected cytostatics for the treatment of leukemia on the activity of human carbonyl reducing enzymes

Charles University Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department of Biochemical sciences Candidate: Bc. Monika Šmídlová Supervisor: RNDr. Eva Novotná, Ph.D. Title of diploma thesis: Effect of selected cytostatics for the treatment of leukemia on the activity of human carbonyl reducing enzymes Key words: reductases, leukemia, cytostatics, inhibition Anthracycline antibiotics, especially daunorubicin, are widely used for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). Although the efficacy of these drugs is high, treatment is still limited due to cardiotoxicity and tumor cell resistance to anthracyclines. Mechanisms that contribute to the formation of anthracycline resistance include metabolic biotransformation (reduction) to less efficient secondary alcohols. The reduction is calatyzed by carbonyl reducing enzymes belonging to aldo-keto reductase (AKR) and short chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) superfamilies. The discovery of AKR and SDR inhibitors could help to overcome anthracycline resistance and also reduce cardiotoxicity caused by these drugs. The aim of the diploma thesis was to find out whether all-trans-retinoic acid, cyclophosphamide, cytarabine, cladribine and prednisolone are able to inhibit anthracycline reductases AKR1A1, AKR1B10, AKR1C3, AKR7A2..