Open Access

Effect of antioxidants coenzyme Q10 and β‑carotene on the cytotoxicity of vemurafenib against human malignant melanoma

  • Authors:
    • Changkun Hu
    • Yuan Huang
    • Peixiao Luo
    • Yixin Yang
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: January 14, 2021     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2021.12469
  • Article Number: 208
  • Copyright: © Hu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Melanoma is a type of highly invasive skin cancer derived from melanocytes with poor prognosis. Vemurafenib (PLX4032) is a clinically approved targeted therapeutic for BRAF mutant melanoma that has a high therapeutic response rate and significantly prolongs the overall survival time of patients with melanoma. Antioxidants have been widely used as supplements for cancer prevention and for decreasing the side effects of cancer therapy. However, antioxidants can also protect cancer cells from oxidative stress and promote cancer growth and progression. The present study aimed to examine the effect of the antioxidants coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and β‑carotene on melanoma cell growth and invasiveness and on the cytotoxicity of vemurafenib against both vemurafenib‑sensitive (SK‑MEL‑28) and vemurafenib‑resistant (A2058) human malignant melanoma cell lines. MTS assay and wound‑healing assay demonstrated that CoQ10 alone significantly reduced the viability and migration of melanoma cells, respectively, and synergistically worked with vemurafenib to decrease the viability and migration of human melanoma cells. In contrast, MTS assay and flow cytometry revealed that β‑carotene alone did not affect the viability and apoptosis induction of melanoma cells; however, it inhibited cell migration and invasiveness. Wound‑healing and Transwell assay demonstrated that β‑carotene alleviated the cytotoxicity of vemurafenib and mitigated the inhibitory effect of vemurafenib on cell migration and invasion. Both CoQ10 and β‑carotene protected melanoma cells from undergoing apoptosis induced by vemurafenib. Immunoblotting demonstrated that β‑carotene at physiological concentration worked synergistically with vemurafenib to suppress the Ras‑Raf‑Mek‑Erk intracellular signaling pathway. The present study aimed to add to the evidence of the in vitro effects of CoQ10 and β‑carotene on the antimelanoma effects of vemurafenib.
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March-2021
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Spandidos Publications style
Hu C, Huang Y, Luo P and Yang Y: Effect of antioxidants coenzyme Q10 and β‑carotene on the cytotoxicity of vemurafenib against human malignant melanoma. Oncol Lett 21: 208, 2021
APA
Hu, C., Huang, Y., Luo, P., & Yang, Y. (2021). Effect of antioxidants coenzyme Q10 and β‑carotene on the cytotoxicity of vemurafenib against human malignant melanoma. Oncology Letters, 21, 208. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2021.12469
MLA
Hu, C., Huang, Y., Luo, P., Yang, Y."Effect of antioxidants coenzyme Q10 and β‑carotene on the cytotoxicity of vemurafenib against human malignant melanoma". Oncology Letters 21.3 (2021): 208.
Chicago
Hu, C., Huang, Y., Luo, P., Yang, Y."Effect of antioxidants coenzyme Q10 and β‑carotene on the cytotoxicity of vemurafenib against human malignant melanoma". Oncology Letters 21, no. 3 (2021): 208. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2021.12469