title: Inhibition of melanoma growth by hemocyanin occurs via early apoptotic pathways.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We hypothesized that keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) would reduce cellular proliferation and effect apoptosis of melanoma cell lines in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two human melanoma cell lines (HTB68 and HTB72) were subjected to a dose-response treatment regimen of KLH (0.4 microg to 100 microg/well). Cell viability was tested by MTT assay (SIGMA, St Louis, MO) at 72 hours. Apoptosis and necrosis were measured by the Annexin V FITC assay (Biovision Inc, Mountain View, CA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Melanoma cell proliferation was significantly reduced in the HTB68 cell line treated with 6.3 microg or higher doses of KLH. A significant reduction in cell growth was also observed in the HTB72 cells at 50 and 100 microg of KLH. KLH increased early apoptotic activity, whereas both late apoptosis and necrosis were decreased by the addition of KLH.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  KLH significantly reduces cellular proliferation in vitro in melanoma, via early apoptotic pathways. The results warrant in vivo studies into the effects of KLH in melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Robert C. Byrd Health Science Center, PO Box 9238, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA.
authors.forename: Ponnandai
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Somasundar
authors.forename: Dale R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Riggs
authors.forename: Barbara J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: McFadden
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006433:Hemocyanins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D008974:Mollusca
chemical_list: D006433:Hemocyanins; C032808:keyhole-limpet hemocyanin