Synergistic Growth-Inhibitory Effects of Fenretinide with Either Cisplatin or Paclitaxel on Human Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Cell Line (SKOV-3)
Chutinat ImAim MD*, Saibua Chicharoen MD*, Prasit Reungrairatanaroj PhD**, Tippawan Liabsuetrakul MD, PhD*
Affiliation : *Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University **Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University
Objectives : To study the growth-inhibitory effects of cisplatin, paclitaxel and fenretinide on human epithelial
ovarian cancer cell line (SKOV-3) and to determine whether fenretinide can synergy with the first two drugs.
Study
Design : Experimental study
Materials and Methods : Human epithelial ovarian cancer cell line (SKOV-3) was cultured. Different
concentrations of cisplatin, paclitaxel and fenretinide were added into cells. The LD50 concentraion of each
drug was measured. The number of viable cells was determined by MTT (dimethyl thiozolyl-2(cid:31),5(cid:31)-diphenyl-2-
H-tetrazolium bromide) assay. The interactions between fenretinide-cisplatin and fenretinide-paclitaxel
were represented as percent inhibition of viable cells.
Results : The LD50 concentrations of cisplatin, paclitaxel and fenretinide were 1.5 (cid:31)g/ml, 27 nmol/ml and 0.4
(cid:31)mol/ml, respectively. The percent inhibition of viable cells of cisplatin was 35%, 70% and 74% (at 1, 2 and
2.5 (cid:31)g/ml), paclitaxel was 5%, 9% and 43% (at 5, 10 and 20 nmol/ml) and fenretinide was 9%, 12% and 25%
(at 0.025, 0.05 and 0.1 (cid:31)mol/ml), respectively. The growth-inhibitory effects of the cisplatin-fenretinide
combination: 1+0.025, 2+0.05 and 2.5+0.1 and paclitaxel-fenretinide combination: 5+0.025, 10+0.05 and
20+0.1 were 100% with statistically significance . These combinations of fenretinide with either cisplatin or
paclitaxel demonstrated the synergistic growth-inhibitory effects.
Conclusion : Combinations of fenretinide with either cisplatin or paclitaxel demonstrated the synergistic
growth-inhibitory effects. From our results, we expected that the using of fenretinide in combination with
cisplatin or paclitaxel can possibly lower the dosage of these drugs. Therefore, the side effects and toxicities
of drugs could be reduced.
Keywords : Cisplatin, Paclitaxel, Fenretinide, SKOV-3, Synergistic growth-inhibitory effects
