title: Cytotoxic effect of artemisinin and its derivatives on human osteosarcoma cell lines.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Osteosarcoma is the most common, non-hematopoietic, primary bone cancer Current standard treatment is to use neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgical resection. However many complications from chemotherapy have been reported. Some studies have reported artemisinin derivatives showed cytotoxic and anti-angiogenic properties.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate cytotoxic properties ofartemisinin and its derivatives on human osteosarcoma cell lines.
  
  
  METHODS
  Osteosarcoma cell lines (MG63 and 148B) were continuously cultured. MTT assay was used to evaluate cytotoxic properties ofartemisinin derivatives at 48 hours of incubation. These cell lines were also tested against doxorubicin as a control. Each IC50 value represented the mean ofat least 3 experiments. Independent t-test was used to test differences between groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Artemisinin and its derivatives at micromolar range exhibited anti-cancer growth activities in human osteosarcoma cell lines. Among them, RKA182 the new synthetic tetraoxane is the most effective in inhibiting cell growth. In addition, water-soluble properties ofdrugs may be the main factor in cytotoxicity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The promising result shows that artemisinin and its derivative inhibits the growth of human osteosarcoma cells. This study indicated that RKA182 may be apotent andpromising agent to combat osteosarcoma. Further studies should be conducted of new synthetic drugs as possible anti-cancer drugs or adjuvant therapy in the clinical treatment of osteosarcoma.
authors.forename: Puripun
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jirangkul
authors.forename: Phutsapong
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Srisawat
authors.forename: Thippachart
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Punyaratabandhu
authors.forename: Thawee
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Songpattanaslip
authors.forename: Mathirut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mungthin
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D037621:Artemisinins; D004317:Doxorubicin; C031327:artemisinin