Anvirzel™ in combination with cisplatin in breast, colon, lung, prostate, melanoma and pancreatic cancer cell lines

Abstract

BackgroundPlatinum derivatives are used widely for the treatment of many cancers. However, the toxicity that is observed makes imperative the need for new drugs, or new combinations. Anvirzel™ is an extract which has been demonstrated with experimental data that displays anticancer activity. The aim of the present study is to determine whether the combination of Cisplatin and Anvirzel™ has a synergistic effect against different types of cancer.Materials and methodsTo measure the efficacy of treatment with Cisplatin and Anvirzel™, methyl-tetrazolium dye (MTT) chemosensitivity assays were used incorporating established human cancer cell lines. Measurements were performed in triplicates, three times, using different incubation times and different concentrations of the two formulations in combination or on their own. t-test was used for statistical analysis.ResultsIn the majority of the cell lines tested, lower concentrations of Anvirzel™ induced a synergistic effect when combined with low concentrations of Cisplatin after an incubation period of 48 to 72 h. The combination of Anvirzel™/Cisplatin showed anti-proliferative effects against a wide range of tumours.ConclusionThe results showed that the combination of Anvirzel™ and Cisplatin is more effective than monotherapy, even when administered at low concentrations; thus, undesirable toxic effects can be avoided.

Cisplatin in cancer therapy: Molecular mechanisms of action

“…Cisplatin is also used in combination with natural compounds like osthole in lung cancer cell lines (Xu, Zhang et al, 2013), honey bee venom in ovarian cancer cells (Alizadehnohi, Nabiuni, Nazari, Safaeinejad, and Irian, 2012), anvirzel in breast, colon, lung, prostate, melanoma and pancreatic cancer cell lines (Apostolou, Toloudi et al, 2013), bevacizumab in non-small cell lung cancer-mediated malignant pleural effusion (Du, Li et al, 2013), vinblastine and bleomycin in metastatic granulosa cell tumor of the ovary (Colombo, Sessa et al, 1986), methotrexate, bleomycin and cisplatin for advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the male genital tract (Dexeus, Logothetis et al, 1991). …”

Low Doses of Cisplatin Induce Gene Alterations, Cell Cycle Arrest, and Apoptosis in Human Promyelocytic Leukemia Cells

“…Paclitaxel and cisplatin combination has been used to treat breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and melanoma 13–15. Other drugs including doxorubicin,16 gemcitabine,17 vitamin D,18 and other natural compounds like osthole, honey bee venom, and anvirzel have been used with positive outcomes in various cancer treatments 5,19,20…”

Oleandrin sensitizes human osteosarcoma cells to cisplatin by preventing degradation of the copper transporter 1

“…An extract from the leaves of N. oleander synergized with DDP in A549 human lung cancer cells (Calderon‐Montano et al, ). Moreover, the combination of DDP with Anvirzel, a N. oleander extract that is mainly composed of OLE, showed synergism in breast, colon, lung, prostate, melanoma, and pancreatic cancer cells (Apostolou et al, ). These findings suggest that the combination of DDP with OLE has the potential to improve the treatment effect of OS.…”

“…Our previous studies also reported that OLE had an antitumor effect against OS (Ma et al, ; Ma et al, ). The extracts from N. oleander have shown synergistic cytotoxicity when administered with DDP (Apostolou et al, ; Calderon‐Montano, Burgos‐Moron, Orta, Mateos, & Lopez‐Lazaro, ), which suggests that OLE may own the potential to potentiate the effect of DDP. Whether OLE sensitizes DDP in OS cells remains unclear.…”