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Lucci A, Vera MC, Comanzo CG, Lorenzetti F, Ferretti AC, Ceballos MP, Quiroga AD, Alvarez MDL, Carrillo MC. Delta-tocotrienol enhances the antitumor effects of interferon alpha through ROS and Erk/MAPK signaling pathways in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 2021; 100:453-463. [PMID: 34932399 DOI: 10.1139/cjpp-2021-0606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The complexity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) signaling and the failure of pharmacological therapeutics reveal the significance of establishing new anti-cancer strategies. Interferon alpha (IFN α) has been used as adjuvant therapy for reducing HCC recurrence and improving survival. Delta-tocotrienol (δ-tocotrienol), a natural unsaturated isoform of vitamin E, is a promising candidate for cancer treatment. In this study, we evaluated whether the combination of δ-tocotrienol with IFN α displays significant advantages in the treatment of HCC cells. Results showed that the combination significantly decreased cell viability, migration and invasion of HCC cells compared to single therapies. Combining δ-tocotrienol and IFN α enhanced the decrease in proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and matrix metalloproteinases MMP-7 and MMP-9. The combination also produced an enhancement of apoptosis together with increased Bax/Bcl-xL ratio and ROS generation. δ-tocotrienol induced Notch1 activation and changes in Erk and p38 MAPK signaling status. Blocking experiments confirmed that ROS and Erk are involved, at least in part, in the anticancer effects of the combined treatment. In conclusion, the combination of δ-tocotrienol with IFN α therapy showed promising results for HCC cells treatment, which makes the combination of cytokine-based immunotherapy with natural products a potential strategy against liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvaro Lucci
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, 62873, Instituto de Fisiología Experimental (IFISE), Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.,Rosario National University Faculty of Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 63029, Rosario, Argentina;
| | - Marina C Vera
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, 62873, Instituto de Fisiología Experimental (IFISE), Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.,Rosario National University Faculty of Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 63029, Rosario, Argentina;
| | - Carla G Comanzo
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, 62873, Instituto de Fisiología Experimental (IFISE), Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.,Rosario National University Faculty of Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 63029, Rosario, Argentina;
| | - Florencia Lorenzetti
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, 62873, Instituto de Fisiología Experimental (IFISE), Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.,Rosario National University Faculty of Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 63029, Rosario, Argentina;
| | - Anabela C Ferretti
- Rosario National University Faculty of Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 63029, Rosario, Argentina;
| | - María Paula Ceballos
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, 62873, Instituto de Fisiología Experimental (IFISE), Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.,Rosario National University Faculty of Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 63029, Rosario, Argentina;
| | - Ariel D Quiroga
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, 62873, Instituto de Fisiología Experimental (IFISE), Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.,Rosario National University Faculty of Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 63029, Rosario, Argentina.,Universidad Abierta Interamericana, 28178, Centro de Altos Estudios en Ciencias Humanas y de la Salud. Sede Rosario, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina;
| | - Maria de Lujan Alvarez
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, 62873, Instituto de Fisiología Experimental (IFISE), Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.,Rosario National University Faculty of Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 63029, Morfología, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.,Universidad Abierta Interamericana, 28178, Centro de Altos Estudios en Ciencias Humanas y de la Salud. Sede Rosario, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina;
| | - María Cristina Carrillo
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, 62873, Instituto de Fisiología Experimental (IFISE), Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.,Rosario National University Faculty of Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 63029, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina;
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