Dual addressing of thymidine synthesis pathways for effective targeting of proliferating melanoma

Here, we examined the potential of blocking the thymidine de novo synthesis pathways for sensitizing melanoma cells to the nucleoside salvage pathway targeting endogenous DNA irradiation. Expression of key nucleotide synthesis and proliferation enzymes thymidylate synthase (TS) and thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) was evaluated in differentiated (MITF (high) [microphthalmia‐associated transcription factor] IGR1) and invasive (MITF (medium) IGR37) melanoma cells. For inhibition of de novo pathways cells were incubated either with an irreversible TS inhibitor 5‐fluoro‐2′‐deoxyuridine (FdUrd) or with a competitive dihydrofolate‐reductase (DHFR) inhibitor methotrexate (MTX). Salvage pathway was addressed by irradiation‐emitting thymidine analog [(123/125)I]‐5‐iodo‐4′‐thio‐2′‐deoxyuridine ((123/125)I‐ITdU). The in vivo targeting efficiency was visualized by single‐photon emission computed tomography. Pretreatment with FdUrd strongly increased the cellular uptake and the DNA incorporation of (125)I‐ITdU into the mitotically active IGR37 cells. This effect was less pronounced in the differentiated IGR1 cells. In vivo, inhibition of TS led to a high and preferential accumulation of (123)I‐ITdU in tumor tissue. This preclinical study presents profound rationale for development of therapeutic approach by highly efficient and selective radioactive targeting one of the crucial salvage pathways in melanomas.