title: Resveratrol synergistically enhances the effect of etoposide in HNSCC cell lines.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  Resveratrol shows a growth inhibitory effect in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines and acts synergistically in combination with etoposide in three cell lines via the induction of apoptotic and necrotic cell death.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In patients with recurrent/distant HNSCC, one of the limited treatment options is etoposide. The aim of this study was to investigate whether resveratrol is able to enhance the antiproliferative effect of etoposide in vitro synergistically.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dose-response curves of etoposide and resveratrol in three HNSCC cell lines were generated. Drug combinations in a fixed dose ratio were carried out and results were analyzed by the combination index method. Detection of apoptotic cells was performed by flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both compounds show a dose- and time-dependent growth inhibitory effect as single agents after treatment. In combination experiments we observed distinct synergistic effects increasing over time in all three cell lines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Vienna , Vienna , Austria.
authors.forename: Gregor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Heiduschka
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bigenzahn
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brunner
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thurnher
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005047:Etoposide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D012016:Reference Values; D000077185:Resveratrol; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D013267:Stilbenes; D005047:Etoposide; D000077185:Resveratrol
keywords: Cancer; antiproliferative effect; apoptosis; synergy