Characterization of the anticancer effects of S115, a novel heteroaromatic thiosemicarbazone compound, in vitro and in vivo

Aim: To investigate the anticancer effects of S115, a novel heteroaromatic thiosemicarbazone compound in vitro and in vivo. Methods: The anti-proliferative action of S115 was analyzed in 12 human and mouse cancer cell lines using MTT assay. Autograft and xenograft cancer models were made by subcutaneous inoculation of cancer cells into mice or nude mice. The mice were orally treated with S115 (2, 8, 32 mg.kg(-1).d(-1)) for 7 d, and the tumor size was measured every 3 d. Cell apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were examined using flow cytometry, gene expression profile analyses, Western blots and RT-PCR. Results: The IC50 values of S115 against 12 human and mouse cancer cell lines ranged from 0.3 to 6.6 mu mol/L. The tumor growth inhibition rate caused by oral administration of S115 (32 mg.kg(-1).d(-1)) were 89.7%, 81.7%, 78.4% and 77.8%, respectively, in mouse model of 1316 melanoma, mouse model of Colon26 colon cancer, nude mouse model of A549 lung cancer and nude mouse model of SK-OV-3 ovarian cancer. Furthermore, oral administration of S115 (7.5 mg.kg(-1).d(-1)) synergistically enhanced the anticancer effects of cyclophosphamide, cisplatin, or 5-fluorouracil in mouse model of S180 sarcoma. Treatment of A549 human lung cancer cells with S115 (1.5 mu mol/L) induced G(0)/G(1) cell cycle arrest, and increased apoptosis. Furthermore, S115 downregulated the level of ubiquitin, and upregulated the level of Tob2 in A549 cells. Conclusion: S115 exerts anticancer effects against a variety of cancer cells in vitro and in grafted cancer models by inducing apoptosis, downregulating ubiquitin and upregulating Tob2.