Dehydroepiandrosterone Inhibits Proliferation and Suppresses Migration of Human Cervical Cancer Cell Lines

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), an adrenal steroid which is most abundant in human plasma, has a protective role against several types of cancer; however, its mechanisms of action are unknown. We evaluated the effect of DHEA on the proliferation and migration of three cell lines derived from cervical cancer. Cell proliferation was evaluated by crystal violet staining; migration by attachment, transwell and wound assays. DHEA inhibited the proliferation of InBl and SiHa cells, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 30,mu M, whereas the proliferation of HeLa cells was inhibited with an IC50 of 70 mu M. DHEA at these IC50 inhibited attachment of cells to the plastic surface of the culture wells, and migration, was evaluated using transwells after 24 h of exposure. DHEA also reduced migration of the three cell lines into the wound area. These results suggest that a possible mechanism of DHEA in protecting against cervical cancer is the inhibition of proliferation and migration of tumor cells. DHEA could be useful in the prevention or treatment of cervical cancer.