Mechanistic insight into a novel synthetic cantharidin analogue in a leukaemia model

  • Authors:
    • Stanton Hon Lung Kok
    • Chung Hin Chui
    • Wing Sze Lam
    • Jien Chen
    • Fung Yi Lau
    • Raymond Siu Ming Wong
    • Gregory Yin Ming Cheng
    • Wing Ka Tang
    • Chor Hing Cheng
    • Johnny Cheuk On Tang
    • Albert Sun Chi Chan
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: August 1, 2006     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.18.2.375
  • Pages: 375-379
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Abstract

Cantharidin isolated from Mylabris caraganae and other insects is used traditionally as an anti-cancer drug especially on hepatoma and leukaemia. Previously, we demonstrated that the novel synthetic cantharidin analogue CAN 032 possessed apoptotic activity on two human hepatoma cell lines Hep3B hepatocellular carcinoma and SK-Hep-1 liver adenocarcinoma. However, its underlying mechanistic action on cancer cells remained unclear. Herein, we furthered our work by making use of KG1a acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML) and K562 chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML) as experimental models. As anticipated, both leukaemia cell lines were sensitive to the cytotoxic action of CAN 032. The activity of CAN 032 was both dose- and time-course-dependent. CAN 032 readily inhibited the colony formation potential of both leukaemia cell lines. KG1a AML treated with CAN032 decreased G1 phase cell population, mitochondrial membrane potential collapse, caspase 3 activation and hence DNA fragmentation. Pre-incubation of leukaemia cells with the general caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK could partially reversed the apoptotic action of CAN 032. This result suggested that the caspase- dependent pathway is necessary for the apoptotic action of CAN 032. CAN 032 provides a new direction for novel drug discovery in experimental cancer therapy.

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August 2006
Volume 18 Issue 2

Print ISSN: 1107-3756
Online ISSN:1791-244X

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Spandidos Publications style
Kok SH, Chui CH, Lam WS, Chen J, Lau FY, Wong RS, Cheng GY, Tang WK, Cheng CH, Tang JC, Tang JC, et al: Mechanistic insight into a novel synthetic cantharidin analogue in a leukaemia model. Int J Mol Med 18: 375-379, 2006.
APA
Kok, S.H., Chui, C.H., Lam, W.S., Chen, J., Lau, F.Y., Wong, R.S. ... Chan, A.S. (2006). Mechanistic insight into a novel synthetic cantharidin analogue in a leukaemia model. International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 18, 375-379. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.18.2.375
MLA
Kok, S. H., Chui, C. H., Lam, W. S., Chen, J., Lau, F. Y., Wong, R. S., Cheng, G. Y., Tang, W. K., Cheng, C. H., Tang, J. C., Chan, A. S."Mechanistic insight into a novel synthetic cantharidin analogue in a leukaemia model". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 18.2 (2006): 375-379.
Chicago
Kok, S. H., Chui, C. H., Lam, W. S., Chen, J., Lau, F. Y., Wong, R. S., Cheng, G. Y., Tang, W. K., Cheng, C. H., Tang, J. C., Chan, A. S."Mechanistic insight into a novel synthetic cantharidin analogue in a leukaemia model". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 18, no. 2 (2006): 375-379. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.18.2.375