title: Albendazole as a promising molecule for tumor control.
abstract: This work evaluated the antitumor effects of albendazole (ABZ) and its relationship with modulation of oxidative stress and induction of DNA damage. The present results showed that ABZ causes oxidative cleavage on calf-thymus DNA suggesting that this compound can break DNA. ABZ treatment decreased MCF-7 cell viability (EC50=44.9 for 24h) and inhibited MCF-7 colony formation (~67.5% at 5μM). Intracellular ROS levels increased with ABZ treatment (~123%). The antioxidant NAC is able to revert the cytotoxic effects, ROS generation and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential of MCF-7 cells treated with ABZ. Ehrlich carcinoma growth was inhibited (~32%) and survival time was elongated (~50%) in animals treated with ABZ. Oxidative biomarkers (TBARS and protein carbonyl levels) and activity of antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD and GR) increased, and reduced glutathione (GSH) was depleted in animals treated with ABZ, indicating an oxidative stress condition, leading to a DNA damage causing phosphorylation of histone H2A variant, H2AX, and triggering apoptosis signaling, which was confirmed by increasing Bax/Bcl-xL rate, p53 and Bax expression. We propose that ABZ induces oxidative stress promoting DNA fragmentation and triggering apoptosis and inducing cell death, making this drug a promising leader molecule for development of new antitumor drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: L S E P W
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Programe of Health Science, Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina (UNISUL), Palhoça, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Kviecinski
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ourique
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Parisotto
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: V M A S
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Grinevicius
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: J F G
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Correia
authors.affiliation: Departament of Ecology and Zoology, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wilhelm Filho
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, SC, Brazil. Electronic address: rozangelapedrosa@gmail.com.
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Pedrosa
mesh_terms: D015766:Albendazole / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002286:Carcinoma, Ehrlich Tumor / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004249:DNA Damage; D058492:Drug Repositioning; D006801:Humans; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D015766:Albendazole
keywords: Albendazole; Antitumor; Apoptosis; Cell cycle arrest; DNA fragmentation; Oxidative stress