Antitumor effect of cotylenin A plus interferon-α:: Possible therapeutic agents against ovary carcinoma

Objective. Recently, we found that cotylenin A and IFN alpha synergistically inhibited growth both in vitro and in vivo, and induced apoptosis in human cancer eel Is. For the clinical application of this combined treatment, suitable cancer targets should be selected. Methods. We examined the combined effects of these compounds on various types of cancer cells by a human cancer cell line panel assay, and on cancer cells that had been freshly isolated from patients in three-dimensional cultures embedded in collagen gel. Results. In the analysis of 39 cancer cell lines, ovarian cancer cells were highly sensitive to combined treatment with cotylenin A and IFN alpha in inhibiting cell growth. This treatment was also effective toward ovarian cancer cells that were refractory to CDDP, and significantly inhibited the growth of ovarian cancer cells as xenografts without apparent adverse effects. Ovarian cancer cells from the patients were also sensitive to the combined treatment in primary cultures. Conclusion. Combined treatment with cotylenin A and IFN alpha may have therapeutic value in treating ovarian cancer. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.