Background & objective: Studies have demonstrated that hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) had therapeutic effect on many malignant tumors, but few studies on oral squamous cell carcinoma were reported. This study was designed to investigate the anticancer effect and mechanism of hydroxycampothecin (HCPT) on oral squamous carcinoma cell line (Tca8113).
Methods: The cytotoxicity of HCPT on Tca8113 cell line was measured by MTT assay and cell cycle detected by flow cytometry(FCM). The growth status of Tca8113 cell xenografts following treatment with HCPT was observed. The doubling times and tumor inhibition rate were calculated.
Results: HCPT had strong cytotoxicity on Tca8113 cells, the IC50 was 2 mumol/L. After treatment with low concentration of HCPT, the cell cycle was arrested in S phase or G2 + M phase; while at high concentration, apoptosis was obviously found and the rate of apoptosis was increased as the time and concentration of HCPT. Compared with control group, the xenografts of HCPT treated group grew slower and tumor doubling time was prolonged, The tumor volumes of HCPT treated group at 28th day were significantly smaller(P < 0.001) with tumor inhibition rate of 69.6%.
Conclusion: The result showed that HCPT had strong cytotoxicity effect to oral squamous carcinoma cells and significant growth inhibition on Tca8113 xenografts. HCPT can arrest cell cycle in S phase and G2 + M phase and induce cell apoptosis.