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Effect of all-trans retinoic acid on the growth of two nasopharyngeal cancer cell lines and its treatment potential in combination with cisplatin

  • Head and Neck
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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of all-trans retinoid acid (ATRA) on two nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) cell lines and to evaluate the synergistic effect of ATRA used in combination with cisplatin, a standard chemotherapeutic agent for NPC. Two NPC cell lines (NPC-TW01 and NPC-TW04) were used, and the MTT assay was used to analyze cell growth inhibition under various concentrations of ATRA and cisplatin. Under low concentrations of ATRA, the growth of both cell lines was significantly inhibited. When ATRA was used in combination with cisplatin, the resulting synergistic effects were robust and significant. Only a low concentration of ATRA was required to produce a synergistic effect when combined with cisplatin, indicating the potential usefulness of a combination therapy regimen. Therefore, the combination of ATRA and cisplatin is a viable treatment option for NPC and should be further investigated.

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Acknowledgments

This study is supported by the Cathay General Hospital Research Fund (CMRI-9605). No other financial disclosures are related to this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Taipei Medical University, No. 250, Wusing St., Sinyi District, Taipei, 110, Taiwan

    Shih-Han Hung, Fei-Peng Lee & How Tseng

  2. Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Shih-Han Hung

  3. Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Wan-Fang Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan

    Fei-Peng Lee

  4. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Chin-Hui Su

  5. Mackay Medicine, Nursing and Management College, Taipei, Taiwan

    Chin-Hui Su

  6. Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan

    How Tseng

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  1. Shih-Han Hung
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  2. Fei-Peng Lee
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  4. How Tseng
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Correspondence to How Tseng.

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Hung, SH., Lee, FP., Su, CH. et al. Effect of all-trans retinoic acid on the growth of two nasopharyngeal cancer cell lines and its treatment potential in combination with cisplatin. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 270, 695–704 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-012-2068-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-012-2068-6

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