title: Interferon-alpha inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis of merkel cell carcinoma in vitro.
abstract: Merkel cell carcinoma is a tumor with aggressive biological behavior and limited response to chemotherapy. The present study investigated the effect of interferon (IFN)-alpha on growth and apoptosis of Merkel carcinoma cells in vitro. Proliferation of MCC-1 cell line was reduced dose-dependently by IFN-alpha and diminished when higher IFN-alpha concentrations were used. Additionally, IFN-alpha potently decreased DNA-synthesis and Ki67/MIB-1 proliferation index of MCC-1 cultures. Furthermore, IFN-alpha induced dose-dependently apoptosis of MCC-1 cells as shown by caspase-3 activation, and detection of apoptotic DNA strand breaks and fragmented nuclei. These findings suggest that IFN-alpha may have antitumor activity against Merkel cell carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece. krasagak@med.uoc.gr
authors.forename: Konstantin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krasagakis
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Krüger-Krasagakis
authors.forename: George N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Tzanakakis
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Darivianaki
authors.forename: Efstathios N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Stathopoulos
authors.forename: Androniki D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Tosca
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015266:Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D053960:DNA Breaks; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D018862:Merkel Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D053633:Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D053633:Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3