title: Verapamil-induced autophagy-like process in colon adenocarcinoma COLO 205 cells; the ultrastructural studies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Verapamil (Ver) is a well known, worldwide used drug to correct cardiac arrhythmias. The main Ver target is the L-type calcium channel. Modulation of calcium homeostasis vaulted Ver into use in medical applications.
  
  
  METHODS
  To examine COLO 205 cells morphology after Ver treatment, an electron microscopy technique was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study shows ultrastructural evidence that Ver initiates autophagy-like process in human colon adenocarcinoma COLO 205 cells. TEM photographs revealed the presence of differently developed autophagic vacuoles in response to Ver administration. Furthermore, extensive ultrastructural cell alterations confirmed that cancer cells died via necrosis or apoptosis, as demonstrated by ruptured plasma membrane or condensed chromatin, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is the evidence that apoptosis resistant COLO 205 cells are overruled by autophagy-like process. Autophagy-like cell death could be a promising venue to delete cancer cells. Ver appears to be a new potentially effective anticancer compound.
authors.affiliation: Polish Academy of Sciences, Warszawa, Poland. bepaj@wp.pl
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pająk
authors.forename: Elżbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kania
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gajkowska
authors.forename: Arkadiusz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orzechowski
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001343:Autophagy / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002843:Chromatin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D014700:Verapamil / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D014700:Verapamil