# Potentiating the cellular targeting and anti-tumor activity of Dp44mT via binding to human serum albumin: two saturable mechanisms of Dp44mT uptake by cells

## TL;DR

This study shows how human serum albumin enhances the cancer cell targeting and effectiveness of a drug called Dp44mT through two specific uptake mechanisms.

## Contribution

The discovery of two saturable mechanisms for Dp44mT uptake, with one being HSA-dependent, is a novel finding.

## Key findings

- HSA significantly increases Dp44mT uptake by cancer cells through a second saturable mechanism.
- The HSA-mediated uptake mechanism has lower affinity but higher capacity compared to the first mechanism.
- Enhanced Dp44mT targeting by HSA increases apoptosis in cancer cells.

## Abstract

Di-2-pyridylketone 4,4-dimethyl-3-thiosemicarbazone (Dp44mT) demonstrates potent anti-cancer activity. We previously demonstrated that 14C-Dp44mT enters and targets cells through a carrier/receptor-mediated uptake process. Despite structural similarity, 2-benzoylpyridine 4-ethyl-3-thiosemicarbazone (Bp4eT) and pyridoxal isonicotinoyl hydrazone (PIH) enter cells via passive diffusion. Considering albumin alters the uptake of many drugs, we examined the effect of human serum albumin (HSA) on the cellular uptake of Dp44mT, Bp4eT and PIH. Chelator-HSA binding studies demonstrated the following order of relative affinity: Bp4eT≈PIH>Dp44mT. Interestingly, HSA decreased Bp4eT and PIH uptake, potentially due to its high affinity for the ligands. In contrast, HSA markedly stimulated Dp44mT uptake by cells, with two saturable uptake mechanisms identified. The first mechanism saturated at 5-10 μM (Bmax:1.20±0.04 × 107 molecules/cell; Kd:33±3 μM) and was consistent with a previously identified Dp44mT receptor/carrier. The second mechanism was of lower affinity, but higher capacity (Bmax:2.90±0.12 × 107 molecules/cell; Kd:65±6 μM), becoming saturated at 100 μM and was only evident in the presence of HSA. This second saturable Dp44mT uptake process was inhibited by excess HSA and had characteristics suggesting it was mediated by a specific binding site. Significantly, the HSA-mediated increase in the targeting of Dp44mT to cancer cells potentiated apoptosis and could be important for enhancing efficacy.