Anticancer activity of novel extracts from Cautleya gracilis (Smith) Dandy: apoptosis in human medullary thyroid carcinoma cells.
BACKGROUND
Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a calcitonin-producing tumor of the thyroid arising from the parafollicular C-cells. MTC is poorly responsive to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, hence the only effective therapy is surgery. Based on this fact, alternative strategies have been sought.


METHODS
The effects of Cautleya gracilis (Smith) Dandy were investigated for the first time in three human MTC cell lines and in MTC-transplanted mice. Proliferation and viability were quantified by cell counting, WST-1 tests, and ATP luminescent cell viability assays. Apoptosis was studied by DAPI staining, flow cytometry and luminescent assays for caspases 3/7, 8 and 9.


RESULTS
A dose-dependent reduction of proliferation and an induction of apoptosis were found in all MTC cell lines, while normal fibroblasts were not impaired. Similar tumor inhibition was seen in heterotransplanted mice.


CONCLUSIONS
Our in vitro and in vivo findings suggest a new potential clinical effect of Cautleya.
Li
Zengxia
Z
Department of Pathophysiology and Immunology, Center of Molecular Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Sturm
Sonja
S
Svejda
Bernhard
B
Höger
Harald
H
Schraml
Elisabeth
E
Ingolic
Elisabeth
E
Siegl
Veronika
V
Stuppner
Hermann
H
Pfragner
Roswitha
R
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D018276:Carcinoma, Medullary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays; D030521:Zingiberaceae / Q000737:chemistry*
D010936:Plant Extracts; D020169:Caspases