Cucurbitacin B inhibits growth, arrests the cell cycle, and potentiates antiproliferative efficacy of cisplatin in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma cell lines

  • Authors:
    • Weikai Chen
    • Amanda Leiter
    • Dong Yin
    • Muriel Meiring
    • Vernon J. Louw
    • H. Phillip Koeffler
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: September 1, 2010     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo_00000723
  • Pages: 737-743
Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) is the second most common skin cancer with a substantial risk of metastasis which causes clinical treatment failure. This study investigated the anti-CSCC effects of a triterpenoid compound, Cucurbitacin B (CuB). Dose-response studies showed that CuB inhibited 50% growth (ED50) of the CSCC cell lines (SRB1, SRB12, SCC13, COLO16) in liquid culture at 4x10−7-10−5 M. Soft-agar assays demonstrated that nearly all of the CSCC clonogenic cells were inhibited at 10−7 M CuB. FACS analysis found that the compound (10−7 M, 48 h) caused G2/M arrest. The CSCC cells underwent profound morphologic changes within 60 min after exposure to CuB (10−7 M), rounding up and losing their pseudopodia. CuB (10−7 M) caused prominent multinucleation of the cells after they were pulse-exposed (24 h) to the drug, washed and cultured in normal medium for an additional 24 h. The drug (10−8-10−6 M, 3-24 h) decreased levels of CDC2 and cyclin B1 in SRB1 and SRB12 cell lines as seen by Western blot analysis. Migration of SRB1 and SRB12 cells was inhibited by 10−7 M CuB. Interestingly, CuB synergistically potentiated the anti-proliferative effect of cisplatin in CSCC. In summary, CuB has a prominent anti-proliferative activity on CSCC cells. In vivo studies and clinical trials of this drug should be pursued in CSCC.

Related Articles

Journal Cover

September 2010
Volume 37 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1019-6439
Online ISSN:1791-2423

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Chen W, Leiter A, Yin D, Meiring M, Louw VJ and Koeffler HP: Cucurbitacin B inhibits growth, arrests the cell cycle, and potentiates antiproliferative efficacy of cisplatin in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma cell lines. Int J Oncol 37: 737-743, 2010.
APA
Chen, W., Leiter, A., Yin, D., Meiring, M., Louw, V.J., & Koeffler, H.P. (2010). Cucurbitacin B inhibits growth, arrests the cell cycle, and potentiates antiproliferative efficacy of cisplatin in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma cell lines. International Journal of Oncology, 37, 737-743. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo_00000723
MLA
Chen, W., Leiter, A., Yin, D., Meiring, M., Louw, V. J., Koeffler, H. P."Cucurbitacin B inhibits growth, arrests the cell cycle, and potentiates antiproliferative efficacy of cisplatin in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma cell lines". International Journal of Oncology 37.3 (2010): 737-743.
Chicago
Chen, W., Leiter, A., Yin, D., Meiring, M., Louw, V. J., Koeffler, H. P."Cucurbitacin B inhibits growth, arrests the cell cycle, and potentiates antiproliferative efficacy of cisplatin in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma cell lines". International Journal of Oncology 37, no. 3 (2010): 737-743. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo_00000723