Alpha-hederin potentiates 5-FU antitumor activity in human colon adenocarcinoma cells.

Sok-Siya Bun, Riad Elias, Béatrice Baghdikian, Joseph Ciccolini, Evelyne Ollivier, Guy Balansard

Index: Phytother Res. 22(10) , 1299-302, (2008)

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of alpha-hederin to improve the efficacy of widely prescribed 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in a human colon adenocarcinoma model. Drug combinations of alpha-hederin and 5-FU using both fixed-concentration and combination index methods were performed in vitro in HT-29 cells. The results showed that alpha-hederin at sub-IC(50) cytotoxic concentrations enhanced 5-FU cytotoxicity about 3.3-fold (p < 0.001). Simultaneous combination of alpha-hederin and 5-FU at their IC(50) ratio showed either a synergistic effect at a moderate cytotoxic range (25% of cell growth inhibition) or an antagonistic effect at a high level of growth inhibition. The data indicate therefore that it is possible to optimize colorectal cancer cell sensitivity to 5-FU with alpha-hederin.(c) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.