[The effect of telomerase inhibitors on oral squamous carcinoma cells].
OBJECTIVE
To study the potential anti-tumor effect of telomerase inhibitors.


METHODS
Human oral squamous carcinoma cell line KB was selected as target cell. The effects of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) and human antisense phosphorothioate (AS-ONS) for telomerase template on KB cell line were investigated. The cytotoxic effect of AZT and AS-ONS on tumor cells was quantified using MTT colorimetric assay. Assay of 3H-TdR incorporation was undertaken to measure the cell proliferation. The changes of telomerase activity after treatment was detected and quantified by telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) semi-quantitative analysis. The Flow Cytometry was used to detect apoptosis and measure cell cycle.


RESULTS
Both AZT and AS-ONS inhibited the growth of KB cell line in a certain range of concentrations, and meanwhile the telomerase activity was reduced after treatment. In addition, both AZT and AS-ONS can induce apoptosis and arrest G1 phase of cell cycle.


CONCLUSIONS
The results obtained above indicated that AZT and AS-ONS could be potentially used as an anti-oral carcinoma agent or an auxiliary treatment for cancer. Those inhibitory effects might be partially due to the induction of apoptosis and the prolongation of cell cycle.
Yang
Zhiqiang
Z
Department of Stomatology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou 510260, China.
Chen
Wen
W
Zhang
Qiao
Q
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / Q000494:pharmacology; D019098:Telomerase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D013873:Thionucleotides; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; C483603:MG 98 phosphorothioate antisense oligodeoxynucleotide; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D013873:Thionucleotides; D015215:Zidovudine; D019098:Telomerase