title: Effect of dicarboxylic (C6 and C9) acids on a human squamous carcinoma cell line in culture.
abstract: In tissue culture, azelaic acid (C9) has been shown to have an anti-proliferative and cytotoxic effect on human and murine malignant melanocytes, with inhibition of mitochondrial oxido-reductase enzymes and DNA synthesis, and damage to mitochondria. Recent reports of effects on differentiation of normal keratocytes have led to the present study of its effects on a squamous carcinoma cell line. Cells were exposed to single doses of disodium salts of azelaic (C9(2)Na) and adipic (C6(2)Na) acids at concentrations of 10(-2)M and 5 x 10(-2)M for 48 hrs. Only C9(2)Na at 5 x 10(-2) M for 4 hrs., and longer, significantly affected proliferation, and the cells exhibited massive swelling of mitochondria with loss of cristae. The results further confirm the probable value of azelaic acid as a general anti-tumoral agent rather than a specifically melanocytotoxic one. They could justify clinical studies on the effect of topical azelaic acid therapy on squamous cell carcinoma in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, St. Mary's Hospital, Medical School, London, U.K.
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Pätzold
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Breathnach
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Robins
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Daridan
authors.forename: Y P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Bhasin
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Ethridge
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nazzaro-Porro
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Passi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Picardo
mesh_terms: D000272:Adipates / Q000494:pharmacology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003998:Dicarboxylic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008933:Mitochondrial Swelling / Q000187:drug effects; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000272:Adipates; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003998:Dicarboxylic Acids; C029900:adipic acid; C010038:azelaic acid