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Lai KC, Chueh FS, Ma YS, Chou YC, Chen JC, Liao CL, Huang YP, Peng SF. Phenethyl isothiocyanate and irinotecan synergistically induce cell apoptosis in colon cancer HCT 116 cells in vitro. Environ Toxicol 2024; 39:457-469. [PMID: 37792803 DOI: 10.1002/tox.23993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
Irinotecan (IRI), an anticancer drug to treat colon cancer patients, causes cytotoxic effects on normal cells. Phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), rich in common cruciferous plants, has anticancer activities (induction of cell apoptosis) in many human cancer cells, including colon cancer cells. However, the anticancer effects of IRI combined with PEITC on human colon cancer cells in vitro were unavailable. Herein, the aim of this study is to focus on the apoptotic effects of the combination of IRI and PEITC on human colon cancer HCT 116 cells in vitro. Propidium iodide (PI) exclusion and Annexin V/PI staining assays showed that IRI combined with PEITC decreased viable cell number and induced higher cell apoptosis than that of IRI or PEITC only in HCT 116 cells. Moreover, combined treatment induced higher levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Ca2+ than that of IRI or PEITC only. Cells pre-treated with N-acetyl-l-cysteine (scavenger of ROS) and then treated with IRI, PEITC, or IRI combined with PEITC showed increased viable cell numbers than that of IRI or PEITC only. IRI combined with PEITC increased higher caspase-3, -8, and -9 activities than that of IRI or PEITC only by flow cytometer assay. IRI combined with PEITC induced higher levels of ER stress-, mitochondria-, and caspase-associated proteins than that of IRI or PEITC treatment only in HCT 116 cells. Based on these observations, PEITC potentiates IRI anticancer activity by promoting cell apoptosis in the human colon HCT 116 cells. Thus, PEITC may be a potential enhancer for IRI in humans as an anticolon cancer drug in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuang-Chi Lai
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Medical Technology, Chung Hwa University of Medical Technology, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Surgery, China Medical University Beigang Hospital, Beigang, Yunlin, Taiwan
| | - Fu-Shin Chueh
- Department of Food Nutrition and Health Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Shih Ma
- School of Chinese Medicine for Post-Baccalaureate, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Chinese Medicine, E-Da Cancer Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Cheng Chou
- Department of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Chi Nan University, Nantou, Taiwan
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jaw-Chyun Chen
- Department of Medicinal Botanicals and Foods on Health Applications, Da-Yeh University, Changhua, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Lung Liao
- School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ping Huang
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Fen Peng
- Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
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