Keyhole limpet hemocyanin, a novel immune stimulant with promising anticancer activity in Barrett's esophageal adenocarcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) is a recently described immune stimulant and hapten carrier derived from a circulating glycoprotein of the marine mollusk Megathura crenulata. We previously reported that KLH has significant antiproliferative effects in vitro against breast, pancreas, and prostate cancers. We hypothesized that KLH would be effective against Barrett's esophageal adenocarcinoma in an in vitro model.


METHODS
Barrett's esophageal adenocarcinoma cell lines (SEG-1 and BIC-1) were cultured using standard techniques. Cells were plated at 1 x 10(5) and KLH was added at concentrations ranging from 400 ng to 100 microg/well. After 24 and 72 h incubation, cells were assayed for viability using the MTT technique. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA. Apoptosis was evaluated using a cell death detection kit after 16 hours of incubation with KLH.


RESULTS
KLH treatment significantly (p < 0.001) reduced viability in a dose and time-dependent manner. Apoptosis was increased in treated SEG-1 cells, but no changes in apoptosis were seen in treated BIC-1 cells.


CONCLUSIONS
KLH directly inhibits the growth of human Barrett's esophageal cancer in vitro by apoptotic and nonapoptotic mechanisms.
Department of Surgery, Robert C. Byrd Health Science Center, West Virginia University, P.O. Box 9238, Morgantown, WV 26506-9238, USA. dmcfadden@hsc.wvu.edu
David W
DW
McFadden
Dale R
DR
Riggs
Barbara J
BJ
Jackson
Linda
L
Vona-Davis
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006433:Hemocyanins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008974:Mollusca; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D006433:Hemocyanins; C032808:keyhole-limpet hemocyanin