Inhibition of growth and increase of alkaline phosphatase activity in cultured human oral cancer cells by all-trans retinoic acid

Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2006 Jul;35(7):643-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ijom.2006.01.005. Epub 2006 Feb 23.

Abstract

In this study, the effects of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on human oral cancer cells with regard to cell growth, the cell cycle, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity were evaluated. Human oral cancer KB cells were treated with various concentrations of ATRA, and cell growth was then determined using the MTT viability assay. The cell-cycle distribution and ALP activity were analysed using a flow cytometer and chemical analyser, respectively. The KB cells were inhibited by ATRA at concentrations of 1-16 microM (1 microM, P<0.05; 2 microM, P<0.01; 4, 8 and 16 microM, P<0.001) in a dose-dependent manner. ATRA arrested KB cells in the G0/G1 phase. The ALP activity in KB cells was increased by ATRA. This is one of the first studies to focus on the expression of ALP in human head-and-neck carcinoma cells treated with retinoids. These findings suggest that the anti-tumour effects of ATRA on human oral cancer are associated with G0/G1 phase arrest and an increase in ALP activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkaline Phosphatase / biosynthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / enzymology
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Flow Cytometry
  • G1 Phase / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • KB Cells / drug effects
  • Mouth Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Mouth Neoplasms / enzymology
  • Resting Phase, Cell Cycle / drug effects*
  • Tretinoin / pharmacology*
  • Tretinoin / therapeutic use
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Tretinoin
  • Alkaline Phosphatase