Vesnarinone is a synthesized positive oral inotropic agent that has multiple biological activities on mammalian cells both in vitro and in vivo. This agent has been reported in relation to its antitumor effect with apoptosis-inducing activity. In the present study, we determined whether vesnarinone could suppress angiogenesis and growth of human oral squamous cell carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo. Vesnarinone significantly inhibited the in vitro and in vivo expression of two major proangiogenic molecules, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-8 (IL-8), in cultured cells and in cells implanted into the subcutaneous tissue of nude mice. Also, vesnarinone inhibited the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activity in human oral squamous cell carcinoma cells in vitro. The decreased expression of VEGF and IL-8 correlated with decreased tumorigenicity and decreased vascularization of lesions in vivo. These findings suggest that vesnarinone can suppress the angiogenesis and growth of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells by inhibiting the expression of VEGF and IL-8 involved in blockade of NF-κB activity.

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