In Vitro Assessment of the Cytotoxic Effect of 5-Fluorouracil, Thymoquinone and their Combination on Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Line

Eloraby, Dina Ashraf Ibrahim; El-Gayar, Sherif Farouk; El-Bolok, Amr Helmy; Ammar, Sabreen Gamal; ElShafei, Marwa Mokbel

doi:10.31557/APJCP.2024.25.6.2169

In Vitro Assessment of the Cytotoxic Effect of 5-Fluorouracil, Thymoquinone and their Combination on Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Line

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

¹ Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Minia University, Minia 61519, Egypt.

² Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Department, Faculty of oral and Dental Medicine, Misr International University, Obour 19648, Egypt.

10.31557/APJCP.2024.25.6.2169

Abstract

Background: Tongue cancer is the most prevalent type of oral cancer. Recently, natural compounds have been considered important resources for several anticancer drugs. Thymoquinone (TQ) exhibits a potent anti-cancer effect. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a chemotherapeutic drug that has been utilized in the treatment of cancer. Recently, combination therapy has gained popularity as a treatment option for patients with cancer. Objectives: The present study was carried out to assess the cytotoxic effect of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), Thymoquinone (TQ), and their combination on tongue squamous cell carcinoma cell line (HNO-97). Methods: Tongue carcinoma cell line (HNO-97) was maintained in cultured flasks and the cells were divided into four groups; group Ι: control untreated group, group ΙΙ: HNO-97-treated cells with different concentrations of 5-FU from 0.5 µM/ml to 3µM/ml, group ΙIΙ: HNO-97-treated cells with different concentrations of TQ from 7.25µM/ml to 23.05µM/ml, and group ΙV: HNO-97-treated cells with both 5-FU and TQ in serial concentrations till (IC50) in a dose of 27.44 µM/ml. Determination of the cytotoxic effect of the tested agents on the HNO-97 cell line was done using methyl thiazole tetrazolium assay, nuclear morphometric analysis, microscopic examination, and annexin-v/ propidium iodide staining assay. Result: The findings revealed that the cytotoxic effect of 5-FU, TQ, and their combination on tongue squamous cell carcinoma cell line (HNO-97) was dose-dependent. The microscopic examination revealed that 5-FU, TQ alone, or their combination induced apoptotic cell death. P-value < 0.05 was statistically significant. Conclusion: The combination of 5-FU and TQ produced a marked cytotoxic effect on HNO-97 cells.

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