Marine compounds selectively induce apoptosis in female reproductive cancer cells but not in primary-derived human reproductive granulosa cells

• Published in: Marine drugs Vol. 10; no. 1; pp. 64 - 83
• Main Authors: Edwards, Vicki, Benkendorff, Kirsten, Young, Fiona
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01.01.2012; MDPI
• Subjects: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; apoptosis; Apoptosis - drug effects; brominated indoles; Caspases - metabolism; Cell Survival - drug effects; Cells, Cultured; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Gastropoda - chemistry; Genital Neoplasms, Female - drug therapy; Genital Neoplasms, Female - pathology; Granulosa Cells - drug effects; gynaecological cancers; Homeopathy; Humans; Hydrocarbons, Brominated - pharmacology; In Situ Nick-End Labeling; Indoles - chemistry; Indoles - isolation & purification; Indoles - pharmacology; Isatin - analogs & derivatives; Isatin - pharmacology; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase - metabolism; Marine; marine mollusc; Necrosis; apoptosis; marine mollusc; gynaecological cancers; brominated indoles
• ISSN: 1660-3397; 1660-3397
• DOI: 10.3390/md10010064

Anticancer properties of tyrindoleninone and 6-bromoisatin from Dicathais orbita were tested against physiologically normal primary human granulosa cells (HGC) and reproductive cancer cell lines. Tyrindoleninone reduced cancer cell viability with IC₅₀ values of 39 µM (KGN; a tumour-derived granulosa cell line), 39 μM (JAr), and 156 μM (OVCAR-3), compared to 3516 μM in HGC. Apoptosis in HGC's occurred after 4 h at 391 µM tyrindoleninone compared to 20 µM in KGN cells. Differences in apoptosis between HGC and KGN cells were confirmed by TUNEL, with 66 and 31% apoptotic nuclei at 4 h in KGN and HGC, respectively. These marine compounds therefore have potential for development as treatments for female reproductive cancers.