title: The possible role of hematin and Mössbauer effect in the inhibition of osteosarcoma cell proliferation.
abstract: Hematin, like many hematoporphyrines and porphyrin derivatives, shows a higher affinity and preferential localization for tumor cells. These properties are particularly interesting in view of their possible applications in tumor treatment. The aim of the present work was to test the capability of porphyrines and resonant low energy gamma rays to produce some kind of selective inhibition of tumor cell proliferation. We investigated the role of hematin to potentiate the killing capability of 14.4 keV resonant gamma rays from a 57Co Mössbauer source. Human osteosarcoma cell cultures "MG-63" were incubated in the presence or absence of hematin (10(-4) to 10(-5) M) for 24 hours. They were successively irradiated for 4 hours with 14.4 keV gamma rays from a 3.7 GBq 57Co source. The combined effects of hematin and resonant gamma radiation were then examined and tested statistically for significance. Different degrees of growth inhibition were observed when hematin alone, radiation alone, and hematin plus gamma rays were administered to the cultures. Hematin, at the concentrations of 10(-4) M is capable of inhibiting tumor cells growth. While no significant effect is attributable to irradiation alone, hematin plus irradiation show a larger inhibition than that expected for purely additive effects.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Scienze Fisiche, University of Parma, Italy. ducci@ipruniv.cce.unipr.it
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ortalli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pedrazzi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Giuliani
authors.forename: S Z
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fano
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Girasole
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Passeri
mesh_terms: D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects*; D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes; D005720:Gamma Rays; D006427:Hemin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D012516:Osteosarcoma; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes; D006427:Hemin