Effects of a novel NF-kappaB inhibitor, dehydroxymethylepoxyquinomicin (DHMEQ), on growth, apoptosis, gene expression, and chemosensitivity in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines

BACKGROUND: Recent studies provide evidence that the constitutive activation of nuclear factor-kappa B, NF-kappaB plays a critical role in enhancing the growth of several types of malignancies, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). METHODS: In this study, we examined the effects of a newly synthesized NF-kappaB inhibitor, dehydroxymethylepoxyquinomicin (DHMEQ), on growth, induction of apoptosis, gene expression, and chemosensitivity in two HNSCC cell lines (YCU-H891 and KB), which expressed high levels of nuclear NF-kappaB protein. RESULTS: DHMEQ showed strong growth inhibitory effects on these two cell lines, with a 50% cell growth inhibition (IC50) concentration of approximately 20 microg/mL. These growth inhibitory effects were associated with inhibition of the NF-kappaB activity. Treatment with DHMEQ induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner accounting, at least in part, for the growth inhibition by DHMEQ. DHMEQ strongly inhibited cyclin D1 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) promoter activity and decreased the levels of cyclin D1 protein and VEGF mRNA in KB cells. In addition, low concentrations of DHMEQ (1.0 or 5.0 microg/mL) synergistically enhanced the cellular sensitivity of YCU-H and KB cells to cisplatin, which is a key chemotherapeutic agent in the treatment of HNSCC. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that DHMEQ may be effective when used alone or in combination with other agents in the treatment of HNSCC.     

Telomerase as an independent prognostic factor in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Telomerase activity has been found to be associated with many cancers, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). We examined the association of telomerase activity with the clinical outcome of patients with HNSCC. METHODS: A PCR-based enzyme immunoassay method was used to measure telomerase activity in 217 matched (grossly normal and cancerous) tissues from patients with HNSCC. Pearson chi-square test was used to analyze the correlation of telomerase activity with clinicopathologic parameters. Kaplan-Meier method and Cox logistic regression model were used for prognostic analysis. RESULTS: Of the 217 tissues assayed, 4.1% of the normal and 63.3% of the cancer tissues had high levels of telomerase activity. Telomerase activity was shown to be statistically correlated with extracapsule spreading (ECS) of lymph nodes (p =.005) and overall survival (p =.003). On multivariant analysis, overall stage (p =.007), tumor depth (p =.045), and telomerase activity (p =.008) showed independent variables associated with poor survival. CONCLUSIONS: Telomerase activity has been shown to be an independent prognostic factor for survival in cases of HNSCC. Telomerase may be a potential molecular target for clinical use in prognostication and therapy in cases of the disease.     

Comparative study of the effects of different glucocorticosteroids on eosinophil survival primed by cultured epithelial cell supernatants obtained from nasal mucosa and nasal polyps.

BACKGROUND--Supernatants from epithelial cell cultures enhance eosinophil survival in vitro, this effect being abrogated by previous incubation of eosinophils with glucocorticosteroids. This property has resulted in the development of an in vitro test to compare the potency of these drugs. A comparative study was performed with dexamethasone, methylprednisolone, deflazacort, and budesonide. METHODS--Human epithelial cell conditioned media (HECM) was generated from cultured epithelial cells obtained from healthy nasal mucosa and polyps. Eosinophils isolated from the peripheral blood were incubated with different corticosteroids for one hour before the addition of HECM. The inhibitory potency of the four steroids on the eosinophil survival index was compared using the concentration of steroid causing 50% inhibition (IC50). RESULTS--Eosinophil survival was increased by HECM from both healthy nasal mucosa and polyps. All four steroids blocked HECM-induced eosinophil survival in a dose-dependent manner. On healthy nasal mucosa methylprednisolone was the least potent (IC50 = 536 nM), deflazacort (IC50 = 264 nM) was twice as potent as methylprednisolone, while budesonide and dexamethasone were approximately nine times as potent (both IC50 = 58 nM). When potency was evaluated on the promoting effects of the HECM obtained from nasal polyps, the inhibitory potencies were lower and consequently the IC50 values were higher when compared with HECM generated from healthy nasal mucosa: methylprednisolone (IC50 = 546 nM), deflazacort (IC50 = 390 nM), dexamethasone (IC50 = 76 nM), and budesonide (IC50 = 78 nM). CONCLUSIONS--The potencies of glucocorticosteroids can be compared by evaluating their effects on the survival of eosinophils previously primed by supernatants obtained from epithelial cell culture. The different effects of steroids on eosinophils primed by HECM obtained from healthy nasal mucosa compared with HECM obtained from nasal polyps suggest that polyps might represent more active tissue which is relatively resistant to treatment with corticosteroids.     

化学治疗药物对大肠癌细胞端粒酶活性的影响

目的：研究常用化学药物对大肠癌细胞HT－29端粒酶活性的影响。方法：利用端粒酶重复扩增实验（TRAP）结合非变性聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳银染法。测定HT－29细胞经过几种化学药物（顺铂，阿霉素，吡柔比星，丝裂霉素，5－FU）不同浓度和时间作用后端粒酶活性的变化。结果：当各种药物大剂量处理细胞4h后再祛除药物培养20h,顺铂对酶的活性完全抑制，丝裂霉素，吡柔比星，阿霉素和5－FU无明显抑制作用。而未经20h再培养则无作用；小剂量药物处理细胞6d。其结果同大剂量相似。结论：顺铂对大肠癌HT－29细胞端粒酶活性有明显抑制作用，而其他几种化学药物没有明显的抑制作用。     

Combined evaluation of expression of telomerase, survivin, and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members in relation to loss of differentiation and apoptosis in human head and neck cancers

BACKGROUND: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most common cancers, and it accounts for 5% of all adult cancers worldwide. Loss of growth control and a marked resistance to apoptosis are considered major mechanisms driving tumor progression. Little is known about the distribution of inhibitors of apoptosis in HNSCC or how they correlate with other biomarkers of malignancy, such as telomerase, an enzyme that plays a critical role in cellular immortalization. The objective of this study was to assess the protein expression of anti-apoptotic members of Bcl-2 family and survivin and correlate them with telomerase activity. METHODS: We compared anti-apoptotic protein expression in tumor tissue sections of 50 HNSCC patients and 19 histopathologically normal tissues by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Apoptotic index was studied by TUNEL assay. Telomerase activity was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, and survivin were found to be significantly upregulated in tumor tissues as compared with the normal tissue. Protein expression of Bcl-2 and survivin was significantly associated with the loss of differentiation in tumors and that of Bcl-XL with nodal metastasis. Telomerase activity was found to be upregulated in tumors as compared with the normal tissue (p <.001) and was found to be significantly associated with the loss of differentiation in tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Mechanisms that promote both cell proliferation (telomerase activity) and cell survival (expression of inhibitors of apoptosis protein [IAPs]) appear to be activated in HNSCC. This is the first study of its kind to look into the correlation of the apoptotic pathway and proliferation promoting enzyme activity simultaneously in relation to loss of apoptosis and differentiation in HNSCCs. Telomerase activity in these tumors was found to be correlated with Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, and survivin overexpression and with reduced apoptosis, thereby suggesting that novel strategies can be developed to control cancer cell growth by co-targeting telomerase and apoptotic pathways.     

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs inhibit telomerase activity in head and neck squamous carcinoma cell lines.

BACKGROUND: Antiproliferative effects in neoplastic cells of different origin have been attributed to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) during the past few decades. METHODS: We tested the influence of NSAIDs and hydrocortisone on cell lines derived from head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) and on normal oral mucosal keratinocytes. Cell numbers were assayed by cell counting, proliferation, telomerase activity with a colorimetric assay, and cell cycle distribution by flow cytometry. RESULTS: In the neoplastic cell lines indomethacin and ibuprofen caused a dose-dependent reduction of cell numbers and telomerase activity without altering cell viability and increased the percentage of cells in G0/G1 phase. In normal oral mucosal keratinocytes, only minor effects could be detected in response to NSAIDs and hydrocortisone. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that NSAIDs have activity against HNSCC cells in vitro and may have clinical applications in combination with other therapeutic regimens.     

Human papillomavirus DNA sequences in cell lines derived from head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.

There is increasing evidence that human papillomaviruses (HPV) have a casual role in some neoplasms in human beings. As examples, DNA of HPV types 16, 18, and 31 are frequently present in genital cancers in humans. Recently, oncogenic HPV types have also been identified in neoplasms of the head and neck, including verrucous carcinoma of the larynx, squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity and larynx, and inverted papillomas of the nose. These findings and our resource of an extensive panel of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines led us to begin to investigate how frequently HPV DNA was present in these tumor cell lines. For initial analysis, twenty-two HNSCC cell lines derived from 20 patients' tumors were selected as representative of our tumor cell line panel with respect to diversity of primary site, tumor stage, patient age, sex, and clinical course. For Southern analysis, cell line DNA was tested for hybridization with DNA probes for HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18, and 31. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis was also performed on five tumor cell lines using types 6, 11, 16, 18, and 52 as probes. Southern blot analysis revealed HPV-specific signals in two of the 22 HNSCC cell lines tested. One of these, UM-SCC-23, was HPV 31 positive, which to our knowledge is the first identification of HPV 31 in HNSCC. UM-SCC-63, the other HPV-positive tumor identified by Southern analysis, hybridized with both type 18 and 31. Of the five tumor cell lines tested with PCR, two were HPV positive.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Treatment of androgen-independent prostate cancer using antimicrotubule agents docetaxel and estramustine in combination: an experimental study

BACKGROUND: Estramustine in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents has demonstrated synergy in hormone-refractory prostate cancer. Docetaxel has demonstrated antineoplastic activity in a variety of chemotherapeutic-unresponsive tumors. We evaluated the effects of estramustine and docetaxel in preclinical models of prostate cancer. METHODS: Cell viability of PC-3 and MAT-LyLu (MLL) cells were assessed 48 hr after drug treatment. For in vivo studies, each flank of five animals in six groups was injected with 1 x 10(6) MLL cells: control, estramustine, docetaxel (low- and high-dose), and low- and high-dose docetaxel with estramustine. Animals were treated on days 4 and 11, and sacrificed on day 14. RESULTS: The IC(50) value for docetaxel was 2 nM in the PC-3 cells and 40 nM in the MLL cells. The addition of 100 nM of estramustine did not alter the IC(50) value for PC-3 cells. In the MLL cells, however, the IC(50) value was lowered to 15 nM. In vivo, low-dose docetaxel with estramustine demonstrated antineoplastic activity similar to that of high-dose docetaxel alone, suggesting additive activity between the drugs. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that when used in combination, docetaxel and estramustine can be more effective at lower dosages than when the individual drugs are used alone.     

不同化疗药对人肝癌细胞BEL-7404端粒酶活性的影响

目的观察几种常用化疗药物对人肝癌BEL-7404细胞端粒酶活性的影响。方法利用端粒重复扩增实验(TRAP)结合非常性聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳银染法,测定BEL-7404细胞经过多种化疗药物(顺铂、阿霉素、丝裂霉素、长春新碱)不同浓度和时间作用后端粒酶活性的变化。结果当各种药物大剂量处理细胞24 h后再去除药物,顺铂对端粒酶的活性完全抑制,丝裂霉素有部分抑制,阿霉素和长春新碱无抑制作用;小剂量药物处理细胞3d,其结果同大剂量相似。结论高浓度顺铂和丝裂霉素C在短时间内或低浓度长时间作用对人肝癌BEL-7404细胞端粒酶活性有显著抑制作用,抑制作用可能与药物的作用浓度和时间有关。     

端粒酶活性与膀胱肿瘤T24细胞的诱导分化研究

目的：探讨人膀胱肿瘤T24细胞诱导分化治疗与端粒酶活性改变的关系。方法：用全反式维甲酸（ATRA）诱导分化人膀胱肿瘤T24细胞，用聚合酶链反应-酶联免疫吸附试验（PCR-ELISA）法检测T24细胞诱导分化后端粒酶活性变化，用流式细胞术检测细胞周期动力学改变。结果：T24细胞经ATRA诱导分化后，细胞周期动力学发生改变：S期细胞所占比例逐渐降低，G0/G1期细胞所占比例逐渐增加；端粒酶活性被明显抑制，与对照组比较，ATRA处理后1、3、5、7d端粒酶活性抑制率分别为10.9％、34.7％、81.2％、92.5％；端粒酶活性的高低与细胞所处的分化状态有关。结论：人膀胱肿瘤T24细胞诱导分化后，其细胞周期动力学发生改变，端粒酶活性被抑制，这可能为膀胱肿瘤的诱导分化治疗提供理论依据。     

反义人端粒酶逆转录酶基因转染对人胃癌细胞系的影响

目的探讨反义人端粒酶(hTERT)基因治疗的可行性。方法构建hTERT基因的反义表达载体,经脂质体介导转染人未分化胃癌细胞系HGC-27,通过Southernblot检测外源反义基因的整合;RT-PCR及DNA测序法检测反义基因的转录;RT-PCR半定量方法检测被封闭目的基因mRNA的转录水平;TRAP及PCRELISA方法检测细胞的端粒酶活性;流式细胞仪检测细胞周期变化。结果外源反义hTERT基因已整合入细胞并获稳定转录,且能显著封闭目的基因转录的mRNA,并显著抑制HGC-27细胞的端粒酶活性,抑制HGC-27细胞的增殖并促进其凋亡。结论端粒酶反义hTERT基因可有效地应用于胃癌的基因治疗。     

Kinetic effects of adriamycin and bleomycin on two osteosarcoma models

Although chemotherapeutic drugs are frequently administered to patients with osteosarcoma, there has been little research into the effect of cytotoxic drugs on osteosarcoma cell biology. The effect of two drugs (Adriamycin and bleomycin) on cell cycle kinetics was investigated in vitro in an established line of human osteosarcoma cells and in vivo using the Dunn osteosarcoma model. The cell cycle changes were consistent with G2 arrest for both drugs in vivo and in vitro. The alteration in cell cycle distribution was correlated with inhibition of 3H-thymidine incorporation in vitro. In vivo, the greater change in cell cycle distribution caused by Adriamycin was reflected in the increased inhibition of tumor growth found with this drug.     

Inhibition of murine neuroblastoma growth by dopamine antagonists

C-1300 murine neuroblastoma ( MNB ) contains the catecholamine biosynthetic pathway. This study investigated manipulation of this pathway for effects on cell growth and survival in tumor-bearing mice, and to correlate these findings with specific membrane-bound dopamine-binding activity. The dopamine antagonists domperidone, pimozide, and spiroperidol inhibited macromolecular synthesis in vitro as demonstrated by decreased [3H]TdR and [14C]leu incorporation in a dose-response fashion; 56, 49, and 43% inhibition was noted at 10(-6) M concentration of each drug, respectively, with no loss of cell viability. Dopamine agonists showed no significant inhibition. Scatchard analysis of dopamine binding was consistent with a single class of receptor sites with a mean concentration of 13.2 +/- 2.0 pmole/g wet weight of tissue and mean dissociation constant (Kd) = 0.69 +/- 0.38 nM, compared to a mean receptor concentration of 28.1 +/- 5.2 pmole/g wet weight of tissue and Kd = 0.38 +/- 0.09 nM in receptor-rich dog caudate nucleus, the normal control. A/J mice injected with 1 X 10(6) tumor cells and treated with daily pimozide or domperidone had a significant increase in disease-free survival when compared to controls (15 versus 8.5 days, P less than 0.001) as well as a significant increase in overall survival (35 versus 25 days, P less than 0.001). These data suggest that dopamine antagonists inhibit macromolecular synthesis in the C-1300 MNB . The inhibition of MNB tumor growth in vivo by dopamine antagonists suggests a specific chemotherapeutic approach to neuroblastoma, possibly mediated by dopamine receptors.     

Contragestazol （DL111-IT） inhibits proliferation of human androgen-independent prostate cancer cell line PC3 in vitro and in vivo

Aim： To evaluate the antiproliferative activity of contragestazol （DL111-IT） on the human prostate cancer cell line PC3 in vitro and in vivo and to elucidate its potential molecular mechanisms. Methods： The cell killing ability of DL111-IT was measured by the 3-（4,5-dimethylthia-zol,2-yl）-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide （MTT） reagent assay method and the tumor xenograft model. The cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry and protein expression, including retinoblastoma （pRb）, cyclin-dependent kinase 4 （CDK4） and cyclin D 1, was detected by Western blotting. Results： DL111-IT exhibited high efficiency on cell growth inhibition of the human androgen-independent prostate cancer cell line PC3. The drug concentration that yielded 50 % cell inhibition （IC50 value） was 9.9 mg/mL. In the PC3 tumor xenograft study, DL111-IT （1.25 mg/kg-20.0 mg/kg） given once a day for 10 days significantly inhibited tumor growth, with the inhibition rate ranging from 21% to 50 %. Flow cytometric analysis indicated that DL111-IT could cause GI arrest in the PC3 cell line, but not apoptosis. DL111-IT enhanced pRb expression and down-regulated CDK4 and cyclin D 1 expression, suggesting that cell cycle regulation might contribute to the anticancer property of DL 111- IT. Conclusion： DL111-1T inhibits the proliferation of human androgen-independent prostate cancer cell line PC3 in vitro and in vivo by a cell cycle regulation pathway.     

Synthetic retinoid CD437 induces S-phase arrest and apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells LNCaP and PC-3

BACKGROUND: Exposure of prostate carcinoma cell lines to retinoids, which function through the classical retinoic acid nuclear receptor, (RARs) or retinoid X receptors (RXRs), results in minimal cytostatic inhibition of cell proliferation. METHODS: Growth inhibition and various regulatory responses were investigated in two human prostate carcinoma cell lines (LNCaP and PC-3) treated with or without a synthetic retinoid, CD 437. RESULTS: Incubation of prostate carcinoma cell lines with a novel retinoid CD437 resulted in the marked inhibition of proliferation. LNCaP and PC-3 possessed IC50 values for CD437 of 375 nM and 550 nM, respectively. Incubation with 1 microM CD437 for 24 hr resulted in 100% and 60% inhibition of growth in LNCaP and PC-3 cells, respectively. Simultaneously, cell flow cytometric analyses revealed a dramatic increase of the cell population in S phase, in both LNCaP (from 38.6% up to 86.7%) and PC-3 (27.9% to 55.7%), and a decreased proportion of cells in G2 phase, in LNCaP (from 23.7% down to 1.2%) and PC-3 (14.9% to 2.2%), indicating a significant S-phase arrest. The cell growth inhibition and S-phase arrest in these cells were followed by apoptosis, as revealed by the acquisition of the characteristic cell morphology including the appearance of apoptotic bodies, and further confirmed by cellular DNA fragmentation. CD437-induced-S phase arrest was associated with upregulated mRNA levels of p21waf1/cip1/sdi1 in both LNCaP (p53+/+) and PC-3 (53-/-) cells. CONCLUSIONS: CD437 represents a unique retinoid that induces S-phase arrest and apoptosis in both androgen-dependent (LNCaP) and -independent (PC-3) human prostate cancer cells, suggesting a potential role of CD437 in the treatment of human prostate cancer.     

Smac蛋白对C6胶质瘤细胞的影响

目的 观察Smac蛋白对c6胶质瘤细胞的影响.方法 以不同浓度(1.5×10-6～1.5×10-2)g/L作用于C6胶质瘤细胞24～72 h,采用噻唑蓝(MTT)比色法检测细胞增殖抑制率,流式细胞术(FCM)检测细胞凋亡率和细胞周期的影响.结果 (1)Smac能以剂量和时间依赖方式抑制C6胶质瘤细胞的增殖,在终质量浓度为1.5×10-2g/L,72 h时抑制率达(57.13±1.41)%,24 h半数抑制浓度(IC50)为:1.34×10-2g/L,其差异具有统计学意义(P<0.01);(2)经流式细胞仪分析,Same蛋白能诱导C6胶质瘤细胞发生凋亡,此作用呈剂量和时间依赖性;(3)Smac蛋白可将c6胶质瘤细胞阻滞在G0/G1期.结论 Smac蛋白能够显著抑制C6胶质瘤细胞生长,诱导其凋亡,其机制可能与C6胶质瘤细胞周期阻滞在G0/G1期有关.     

Estradiol causes a dose-dependent stimulation of prostate growth in castrated beagle dogs

BACKGROUND: We analyzed the cytotoxic properties of the new heterodinucleoside phosphate dimer 5-FdU-NOAC, which is composed of the cytotoxic drugs 5-FdU and N(4)-octadecyl-1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (NOAC) against human prostate tumor cells. METHODS: 5-FdU-NOAC effects on cell proliferation, cell cycle distribution, thymidylate synthase activity, and apoptosis were investigated in vitro in the two human prostate carcinoma cell lines DU-145 and PC-3 and compared to cells treated with the corresponding single drugs 5-FdU and NOAC. RESULTS: Treatment of the cells with 5-FdU-NOAC resulted in IC(50) values of 3.9-5 microM and in a complete inhibition of cell proliferation at 200 microM after 96 hr compared to 5-FdU, where 10% of the cells remained resistant. Flow cytometric analysis revealed cell cycle perturbations in S-phase only in the DU-145 cells. 5-FdU-NOAC caused 50% inhibition of thymidylate synthase after 90 min at 0.6 microM in both cell lines. Apoptotic cell fractions in DU-145 (66%) and in PC-3 (34%) cells were found after treatment with 5-FdU-NOAC for 96 hr. DNA fragmentation further confirmed the induction of apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: 5-FdU-NOAC inhibits thymidylate synthase and cell cycle progression causing proliferation arrest and apoptosis in DU-145 and PC-3 cells, suggesting a potential role of 5-FdU-NOAC for the treatment of prostate cancer.     

Small molecule, oligonucleotide-based telomerase template inhibition in combination with cytolytic therapy in an in vitro androgen-independent prostate cancer model

PURPOSE: Determine the efficacy and timing of small molecule oligonucleotide-based inhibitors to the enzyme telomerase in an in vitro model of androgen-independent, osseous prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Telomerase was inhibited in prostate cancer cell lines C4-2/C4-2B and in controls by using small molecule antisense oligonucleotide-based inhibitors alone or in various combinations of small-dose Taxotere (sanofi-aventis, Bridgewater, NJ) and/or conditionally replication competent adenovirus (AD-BSP-E1a). After transfection and proliferation, telomerase telomeric repeat amplification protocol and telomere restriction fragment assays were performed, with specific times for evaluating telomere length. Specimens were stained for analysis with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end-labeling (TUNEL), and prostate-specific antigen (PSA). RESULTS: C4-2/C4-2B cell lines had the shortest initial mean telomere length (approximately 2.5 kilobase [kb]) compared to PC-3 (approximately 5.5 kb). Dose-dependent inhibition of telomerase activity was seen using match oligonucleotide-based inhibitors to telomerase (50% inhibitory concentration 3-5 nm), whereas mismatch compound showed no telomerase inhibition. Significant growth delay and apoptosis in cell lines occurred after > 50 days of treatment. Cells treated with combination "triple therapy" (i.e., telomerase inhibitors, adenovirus, and Taxotere) had the highest amount of apoptosis. Compared to controls, all combination treatment groups had statistically significant reductions in prostate-specific antigen in the conditioned media. CONCLUSIONS: Combining cytotoxic regimens with small molecule inhibitors to telomerase with oligonucleotide-based agents could be beneficial in controlling osseous hormone refractory prostate cancer, as evidenced by these in vitro, preclinical investigations. Telomerase inhibition needs to move into in vivo models and human studies.     

Effects of sodium butyrate on growth, differentiation, and apoptosis in head and neck squamous carcinoma cell lines

BACKGROUND: Biologic agents that reverse early changes in the aerodigestive tract mucosa have potential treatment applications for patients with field cancerization of the upper aerodigestive tract. Sodium butyrate (BA) is a normal dietary constituent that induces differentiation and inhibits growth in several malignant cell types in vitro, but its effect on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has not been evaluated. METHODS: Using five HNSCC cell lines, the effects of BA on cell proliferation and apoptosis were examined by colorimetric and fluorescence-labeling methods, and the expression of differentiation markers and apoptosis-related proteins were analyzed using Western and Northern blotting, flow cytometry, and cell cycle analysis. RESULTS: BA-induced growth inhibition and apoptosis in HNSCC cells at millimolar concentrations. Apoptosis induction did not depend on the p53 status of the cell lines or on expression of members of the Bcl-2/Bax family. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that butyrate has activity against HNSCC in vitro and may have clinical applications for management of HNSCC patients.