title: Four cardiac hormones cause cell death of melanoma cells and inhibit their DNA synthesis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There will be an estimated 59,940 new cases of melanoma and 8,110 deaths from melanoma in the United States in 2007. There has been no improvement in survival with melanomas in the last 22 years, with current treatment indicating that new treatment(s) of melanoma are drastically needed. Four cardiac hormones ie, atrial natriuretic peptide, vessel dilator, long-acting natriuretic peptide, and kaliuretic peptide, have significant anticancer effects in adenocarcinomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dose-response curves evaluated the effects of these cardiovascular hormones on cell death and DNA synthesis in several melanoma cell lines in culture for 96 hours. Receptors to mediate these peptide hormones effects were examined in the melanoma cells with Western blots. Their intracellular mediator-analog 8-bromo-cyclic GMP was used to determine if it could mimic their effects on decreasing melanoma cell number and DNA synthesis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The four cardiac hormones caused cell death in up to 71% (P < 0.001) of the melanoma cells within 24 hours. Cardiac hormone receptors (NPR-A, -B, -C) were present on the melanoma cells, and each of the peptide hormones decreased DNA synthesis within the melanoma cells up to 73% (P < 0.001) at their 1-microM concentrations. 8-Bromo-cyclic GMP mimicked their effects, decreasing the number of melanoma cells up to 67% and their DNA synthesis by 58% (both at P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that 4 cardiac hormones have potent beneficial effects by increasing cell death in up to 71% of melanoma cells within 24 hours mediated in part by a 73% decrease in their DNA synthesis.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Internal Medicine, University of South Florida Cardiac Hormone Center, Tampa, Florida 33612, USA. david.vesely@med.va.gov
authors.forename: Brian A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Vesely
authors.forename: Ehrentraud J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Eichelbaum
authors.forename: Abdel A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Alli
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Gower
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Vesely
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000502:physiology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000494:pharmacology; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism*; D006162:Guanylate Cyclase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000502:physiology; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000502:physiology*; D017461:Receptors, Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D000099242:Atrial Natriuretic Factor Receptor B
chemical_list: D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor; D006152:Cyclic GMP; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D006162:Guanylate Cyclase; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011498:Protein Precursors; D017461:Receptors, Atrial Natriuretic Factor; D000099242:Atrial Natriuretic Factor Receptor B; C075322:atrial natriuretic factor precursor (79-98); C054547:atrial natriuretic factor prohormone (1-30), human; C054548:atrial natriuretic factor prohormone (31-67); C091715:atrial natriuretic factor receptor A; C073616:atrial natriuretic factor receptor C