title: Anti-tumor effect of ribavirin in combination with interferon-α on renal cell carcinoma cell lines in vitro.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ribavirin is an anti-viral drug; however, recent data suggest that it may also be effective in cancer therapy. This study investigated the effect of ribavirin alone or in combination with IFN-α on biological processes: proliferation, apoptosis, and migration of murine (Renca) and human renal carcinoma (RCC) cells (786-0) in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  Renca and 786-0 cells were treated with IFN-α, ribavirin, or a combination of IFN-α and ribavirin at varying concentrations. Cell proliferation was evaluated using CCK-8 assay. Induction of apoptosis and distribution of cell cycle were determined by flow cytometry. The migratory capacity of cells was quantified using a transwell migration assay. The toxic effect of these drugs was examined using MTT assay in HEK-293 cells. ELISA was used to measure IL-10 and TGF-β content in the culture supernatants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results showed that both ribavirin alone and in combination with IFN-α could significantly inhibit the cell proliferation and arrest the cell cycle progress at the G2/M phase. These treatments also inhibited cell migration and IL-10 production, in a concentration-dependent manner, in 786-0 and Renca cells. Moreover, they significantly induced apoptosis of RCC cells and increased TGF-β production in concentration-dependent manner. No significant toxic effect was observed in HEK-293 cells. We also found that the effect of combined treatment was more pronounced than that of ribavirin or IFN-α alone. However, the combined effect of the two drugs was not synergistic.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that ribavirin can negatively affect biological processes of RCC cells. This agent might become a new candidate for the treatment of RCC in the clinical setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, The Affiliated Tumor Hospital, Harbin Medical University, No. 150 Haping Road, Harbin city, Heilongjiang Province 150081 China.
authors.forename: Lichen
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Teng
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, The Affiliated Tumor Hospital, Harbin Medical University, No. 150 Haping Road, Harbin city, Heilongjiang Province 150081 China.
authors.forename: Dexin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, The Affiliated Tumor Hospital, Harbin Medical University, No. 150 Haping Road, Harbin city, Heilongjiang Province 150081 China.
authors.forename: Yongsheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, The Affiliated Tumor Hospital, Harbin Medical University, No. 150 Haping Road, Harbin city, Heilongjiang Province 150081 China.
authors.forename: Hongshuang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, The Affiliated Tumor Hospital, Harbin Medical University, No. 150 Haping Road, Harbin city, Heilongjiang Province 150081 China.
authors.forename: Guobin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, The Affiliated Tumor Hospital, Harbin Medical University, No. 150 Haping Road, Harbin city, Heilongjiang Province 150081 China.
authors.forename: Zhongjie
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, No. 31 Youzheng Street, Harbin city, Heilongjiang Province 150080 China.
authors.forename: Ruihua
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: An
keywords: Apoptosis; Migration; Proliferation; RCC; Ribavirin