Apoptosis of Human Cervical and Ovarian Cancer Cell Lines Induced by a Novel Nutrient Mixture

M.W. Roomi, N.W. Roomi, V. Ivanov, A. Niedzwiecki and M. Rath
Dr. Rath Research Institute, 1260 Memorex Drive, Santa Clara, CA 95050

Presented at: GTCbio Apoptosis in Drug Discovery; San Diego, CA;
March 22-23, 2007

Published in: Proceedings of the GTCbio Conference on
Apoptosis in Drug Discovery

Abstract

Introduction:
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common malignant neoplasm and ovarian cancer the seventh most common. Once these cancers are metastasized, 5-year survival is limited to 10-20%. A unique antitumor agent, a nutrient mixture (NM) containing lysine, proline, ascorbic acid and green tea extract has demonstrated anticarcinogenic activity against a number of human cancer cell lines.

Objective:
We investigated whether the antitumor effect of NM on cervix and ovarian cancer cell lines was due to apoptosis.

Method and Materials:
Cervix (Hela) and ovarian (SK-OV-3) cancer cell lines from ATCC were cultured in MEM and McCoy medium and treated with NM in different doses, 0, 100, 500 and 1000 µg/ml. Growth inhibition was detected by MTT assay, morphology by H&E staining, and apoptosis by Live Green Caspase Detection Kit.

Results:
NM was slightly toxic to Hela cells at 100 µg/ml and significant at 500 and 1000 µg/ml. In contrast, NM showed slight insignificant effect on ovarian cancer cell growth. H&E staining revealed a similar apoptotic pattern in Hela and SK-OV-3 cells treated with NM at 100, 500 and 1000 µg/ml: cell shrinkage, condensation of nuclei, and acidophilic cytoplasm. Using the caspase kit, both early and late apoptosis were detected in Hela and ovarian cells: moderate at 100 µg/ml NM and significant at 1000 µg/ml NM.

Conclusions:
The results suggest that NM induces apoptosis in both cervical and ovarian cancer cell lines and thus as a promising new therapeutic agent.