Enhancing the Effective Chemotherapy: The Combined Inhibition of Rhinacanthin-C, 5-Fluorouracil, and Etoposide on Oral Cancer Cells

Klaophimai, Sirinthip; Pouyfung, Phisit; Chairatvit, Kongthawat

doi:10.31557/APJCP.2023.24.7.2405

Enhancing the Effective Chemotherapy: The Combined Inhibition of Rhinacanthin-C, 5-Fluorouracil, and Etoposide on Oral Cancer Cells

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

¹ Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Mahidol University, 6 Yothi Rd, Ratchathevi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.

² Department of Occupational Health and Safety, School of Public Health, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand.

10.31557/APJCP.2023.24.7.2405

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effects of rhinacanthin-C (Rh-C), 5-FU, and etoposide on growth inhibition, as well as the effects of a combination of these inhibitors on the oral cell lines SCC9 and HSC4. Methods: Cancer cell growth inhibition and inhibition combination were determined using the SRB assay. Cell viability and early apoptosis were determined using flow cytometry on cells stained with Annexin 5 and PI. Western blotting was performed to study the molecular mechanism of these inhibitors on oral cancer cells. Results: The results showed that etoposide, 5-FU, and Rh-C exhibited more potent anti-proliferative effects on HSC4 cells compared to SCC9 cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. The combination of Rh-C and 5-FU was more effective in inhibiting cell growth than the drugs used alone. The combination of 5-FU and Rh-C resulted in a decrease in live HSC4 cells, with the highest percentage of cell death observed at a ratio of 40:6 μM. Furthermore, the combination of 5-FU and Rh-C reduced P-Akt levels leading to a decrease in cell survival. Conclusions: HSC4 cells were found to be more sensitive to the inhibitory effect of these drugs compared to SCC9 cells. These findings suggest that the use of Rh-C as a complementary therapy with 5-FU may have the potential for the treatment of oral cancer. the underlying mechanisms responsible for this difference in sensitivity between the two cell lines need to be further investigated.

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