Effects of dexamethasone, all-trans retinoic acid, vitamin D(3) and interferon-alpha on FO myeloma cells.
BACKGROUND
Since multiple myeloma responds poorly to conventional chemotherapy or radiotherapy, new therapeutic approaches are needed. This study investigated the effects of dexamethasone, all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), the active metabolite of vitamin D(3) [1,25(OH)(2)D(3)] and interferon-alpha on FO mouse myeloma cells (non-immunoglobulin-secreting myeloma cell line) in single drug or drug combination groups in vitro.


METHODS
Apoptosis ratio and change in cell counts in 4 single drug groups (dexamethasone, ATRA, vitamin D(3) and interferon-alpha) and 6 combination drug groups (dexamethasone + vitamin D(3,) dexamethasone + ATRA, dexamethasone + interferon-alpha, vitamin D(3) + ATRA, vitamin D(3) + interferon-alpha, interferon-alpha + ATRA) were compared with the control group.


RESULTS
When treatment groups were compared with the control group, there was a significant increase in apoptosis in all, but this was most prominent in the group treated with dexamethasone alone. The apoptosis ratios were 0.10 and 6.82% in the control and dexamethasone-only groups, respectively. We also found that there was a significant decrease in cell count, particularly in the dexamethasone-only, ATRA-only, and ATRA-vitamin D(3) combination groups.


CONCLUSIONS
ATRA, interferon-alpha, vitaminD(3) and particularly dexamethasone have significant effects on FO mouse myeloma cells resulting in a decreased cell count and an increased apoptosis ratio. This study should be repeated with human myeloma cell lines for further information.
Ozdemir
Feyyaz
F
Department of Medical Oncology, School of Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University, TR-61080 Trabzon, Turkey. feyyazozdemir@yahoo.com
Esen
Nilgun
N
Ovali
Ercument
E
Tekelioglu
Yavuz
Y
Yilmaz
Mustafa
M
Aydin
Fazil
F
Kavgaci
Halil
H
Boruban
Cem
C
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002452:Cell Count; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000473:pathology*; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D002762:Cholecalciferol; D014212:Tretinoin; D003907:Dexamethasone