Effects of sodium butyrate on growth, differentiation, and apoptosis in head and neck squamous carcinoma cell lines.
BACKGROUND
Biologic agents that reverse early changes in the aerodigestive tract mucosa have potential treatment applications for patients with field cancerization of the upper aerodigestive tract. Sodium butyrate (BA) is a normal dietary constituent that induces differentiation and inhibits growth in several malignant cell types in vitro, but its effect on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has not been evaluated.


METHODS
Using five HNSCC cell lines, the effects of BA on cell proliferation and apoptosis were examined by colorimetric and fluorescence-labeling methods, and the expression of differentiation markers and apoptosis-related proteins were analyzed using Western and Northern blotting, flow cytometry, and cell cycle analysis.


RESULTS
BA-induced growth inhibition and apoptosis in HNSCC cells at millimolar concentrations. Apoptosis induction did not depend on the p53 status of the cell lines or on expression of members of the Bcl-2/Bax family.


CONCLUSIONS
These results demonstrate that butyrate has activity against HNSCC in vitro and may have clinical applications for management of HNSCC patients.
Gillenwater
A
A
Departments of Head and Neck Surgery, Box 069, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Box 069, Houston, TX 77030, USA. agillenwater@notes.mdacc.tmc.edu
Zou
C P
CP
Zhong
M
M
Lotan
R
R
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002087:Butyrates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D016193:G1 Phase / Q000187:drug effects; D019254:Genes, bcl-2; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D012016:Reference Values; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis
D002087:Butyrates; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53