Abstract 105: Clobetasol-induced quiescence in the vulvar carcinoma cell line UMSCV-4 can be overcome by repeated removal and re-exposure to this ultrapotent corticosteroid

Abstract

Vulvar cancer is rare, mostly afflicting women aged 60 and older. The cancer is often preceded by a common vulvar rash, Lichen sclerosis, that is usually treated with the ultra-potent corticosteroid, clobetasol propionate. This treatment may, in turn, be associated with vulvar carcinogenesis. We found that clobetasol slows metabolism and proliferation in the vulvar carcinoma cell line, UMSCV-4 as revealed through MTT and BrdU/Ki67 assays. Upon removal from clobetasol, a subpopulation of UMSCV-4 cells had proliferation rates restabilize to baseline levels. The rate of cell death slightly increased in the presence of clobetasol as shown using trypan blue exclusion, but the majority of cells remained viable. RT-qPCR showed that the cell cycle inhibitors, p16 and p21 were upregulated while cyclin D1 was downregulated after 10 days of clobetasol treatment. The subpopulation removed from clobetasol proliferated at normal levels when re-exposed. These studies suggest that UMSCV-4 cells are a good model for studying quiescence. In addition, these studies highlight the potential for vulvar cancer cells to evade cancer treatments in the presence of clobetasol and lead to selection for more aggressive subpopulations. Citation Format: Nolberto Jaramillo, Nina M. Mustico, Jani E. Lewis. Clobetasol-induced quiescence in the vulvar carcinoma cell line UMSCV-4 can be overcome by repeated removal and re-exposure to this ultrapotent corticosteroid [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 105.