Combination of quercetin and Adriamycin effectively suppresses the growth of refractory acute leukemia

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of combined treatment with quercetin and Adriamycin (doxorubicin) on the development of refractory acute leukemia. Primary leukemic cells were isolated from patients with refractory drug-resistant acute leukemia. The Cell Counting Kit-8 assay was used to detect the proliferation of cells treated with a range of doses of Adriamycin, quercetin and a combination of the two drugs. Non-irradiated mice were used to establish a T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) model, which was subsequently treated with Adriamycin, quercetin and a combination of the two drugs. The survival time was recorded, and white and red blood cells and platelets in mouse peripheral blood were counted. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content of cardiac tissues were measured as indicators of oxidative stress and damage. Proliferation of primary leukemic cells was reduced by Adriamycin depending on the dose (0.06, 0.6 or 6 µg/ml) and treatment duration (24, 48 or 72 h) compared with the vehicle treated group. Co-treatment with quercetin achieved a similar suppression of leukemic cell proliferation when a lower dose of Adriamycin (0.03, 0.3 or 3 µg/ml) was administered for the same duration. The survival of non-irradiated mice with T-ALL was improved by co-treatment with a high dose of Adriamycin and quercetin compared with either treatment alone. Compared with treatment with Adriamycin alone, the combined treatment with Adriamycin and quercetin significantly enhanced the SOD activity and reduced the MDA content in the heart. Therefore, quercetin may enhance the effects of Adriamycin on refractory acute leukemia.

Quercetin, a Flavonoid with Great Pharmacological Capacity

“…In this regard, the coadministration of doxorubicin and quercetin significantly increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the heart of mice. Therefore, combining quercetin and doxorubicin may enhance the effect of doxorubicin in treating leukemia [ 87 ]. Consequently, quercetin combined with cytosine arabinoside has been shown to improve leukemia treatment by inhibiting the formation of human leukemic cell colonies [ 88 ].…”

Design and Parameterization of a Computational Model Based on Convolutional Neural Networks for Mango Selection

“…In this regard, the co-administration of doxorubicin and Quercetin significantly increased Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) activity and decreased Malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the heart of mice. Therefore, combining Quercetin and doxorubicin may enhance the effect of doxorubicin in treating leukemia [87]. Consequently, Quercetin combined with cytosine arabinoside has been shown to improve leukemia treatment by inhibiting the formation of human leukemic cell colonies [88].…”

Review of molecular biological studies on acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated by modified shengmaiyin

“…Modern pharmacological studies have shown that quercetin can inhibit platelet aggregation, significantly inhibit platelet aggregation induced by thrombin and platelet activating factor, significantly inhibit the effect of cancer promoters, inhibit the growth of malignant cells in vitro, resist tumors, inhibit the expression of inflammatory mediators, and mediate cell signal transduction; Quercetin can inhibit the malignant proliferation of leukocytes, restore the hemogram to a relatively normal level, and has a significant inhibitory effect on ALL. [11,12] A number of studies have found that dihydroisoflavone E of Ophiopogon japonicus shows a variety of pharmacological activities, such as cardiovascular protection, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, antioxidant, immunomodulation, etc. [13] ; Homoplanin can play an anti-tumor role by inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, inducing tumor cell apoptosis, invasion and metastasis, tumor angiogenesis and other mechanisms, has multiple targets and a wide anti-tumor spectrum, plays a role in a variety of tumors, has weak toxicity to normal cells.…”