Dihydroxy-2,5 benzenesulphonate (dobesilate) elicits growth arrest and apoptosis in glioma cells.
OBJECTIVE
Dihydroxy-2,5 benzenesulphonate (dobesilate) is used as an oral agent for treatment of vascular complications of diabetic retinopathy. We previously showed that blockade of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) driving angiogenesis with dobesilate inhibited new blood vessel formation in a mouse gelatine plug assay. In the present study we assessed the effects of dobesilate in rat glioma cells.


METHODS
Rat C6 cells line were grown as adherent cells in Dulbecco modified Eagle medium supplemented with 1% (v/v) fetal bovine serum and antibiotics. Calcium dobesilate was added in independent experiments at the following concentrations: 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100 microM, and cells were incubated for 24 hours. Effects of dobesilate in glioma cell proliferation and survival were assessed using crystal violet staining and TUNEL assay, respectively.


RESULTS
Incubation of glioma cells with dobesilate for 24 hours concentration-dependently decreased cell proliferation with an apparent IC50 of 25 microM, and this antiproliferative effect was related to a significant increase in glioma cell apoptosis.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that dobesilate is a promising candidate leading to the development of a new adjuvant therapeutic strategy for gliomas.
Cuevas
P
P
Departamento de Investigación, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Universidad de Alcala de Henares, Madrid, Spain. pedro.cuevas@hrc.es
Díaz-González
D
D
Giménez-Gallego
G
G
Dujovny
M
M
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D002123:Calcium Dobesilate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D005910:Glioma / Q000473:pathology*; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D051381:Rats
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002123:Calcium Dobesilate