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Increased cytotoxicity of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck by combining cisplatin with VP‐16 and ciprofloxacin
Author(s) -
Haller Jeffrey,
Burgess Robert,
Dawson Douglas
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1288/00005537-199310000-00001
Subject(s) - cytotoxicity , cisplatin , ciprofloxacin , topoisomerase , head and neck squamous cell carcinoma , mtt assay , cancer research , viability assay , pharmacology , cell , biology , in vitro , head and neck cancer , cancer , antibiotics , microbiology and biotechnology , chemotherapy , biochemistry , genetics
Abstract Chemotherapeutic treatment of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck has been largely ineffective because of tumor cell resistance. This study examined combinations of cisplatin, 4′ demethylepipodophyllotoxin ethylidene D‐glucoside (VP‐16), and ciprofloxacin, a quinolone antibiotic. VP‐16 and ciprofloxacin were used in an effort to inhibit DNA repair and increase cytotoxicity. Chemotherapeutic agents often have a direct damaging effect on cellular DNA. Cytotoxicity may be the result of incomplete DNA repair mechanisms; whereas tumor cell resistance to drugs may be due to efficient DNA recovery. A nuclear enzyme especially important to DNA repair and cell growth is topoisomerase II (topo II). Targeted inhibition of topo II by VP‐16 and ciprofloxacin may cause increased cisplatin cytotoxicity. SCC cell lines of head and neck origin were treatd with a combination of cisplatin, VP‐16, and/or ciprofloxacin with cell viability being assessed by the MTT colorimetric assay. Four of five SCC lines examined demonstrated significant augmentation of cisplatin cytotoxicity with the addition of both VP‐16 and ciprofloxacin. These in vitro data suggest methods may exist for improving the chemotherapeutic treatment of SCC of the head and neck.