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A benzimidazolium salt induces apoptosis and arrests cells at sub-G1 phase in epithelial ovarian cancer cells

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A Correction to this article was published on 27 March 2024

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Abstract

Background

Ovarian cancer, also known as a silent killer, is the deadliest gynecological cancer in women worldwide. Epithelial ovarian cancers constitute the majority of ovarian cancers, and diagnosis can be made in advanced stages, which greatly reduces the likelihood of treatment and lowers the survival rate. For the treatment of epithelial ovarian cancers, the search for synthetic agents as well as agents of natural origin continues. The effects of 1-(2-cyanobenzyl)-3-(4-vinylbenzyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole-3-ium chloride (BD), a benzimidazole derivative, were investigated on epithelial ovarian cancer cells.

Methods and results

In our study, the effects of BD on proliferation, colony formation, cell death by apoptosis and the cell cycle in A2780 and A2780 Adriamycin (ADR) ovarian cancer cell lines were investigated. Proliferation was examined with cell viability analysis, colony formation and apoptosis with Annexin V staining and cell cycle analyses with PI staining, respectively. As a result of the analyses, BD inhibited cell proliferation and colony formation, induced apoptosis and cell death at 48 h in A2780 and A2780 ADR cells at 10.10 and 10.36 µM concentrations, respectively. In addition, A2780 and A2780ADR cells were arrested in the Sub-G1 phase of the cell cycle.

Conclusions

BD suppresses cancer cell progression by showing antiproliferative effects on ovarian cancer cells. Further analyses are required to determine the mechanism of action of this agent and to demonstrate its potential as a suitable candidate for the treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer.

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Funding

This work was supported by Van Yuzuncu Yıl University Research Fund [Grant Number TSA-2021-9347].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Van Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, 65090, Turkey

    Sakine Akar, Mustafa Cakir & Halil Ozkol

  2. Department of Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey

    Senem Akkoc

  3. Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Bahcesehir University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Senem Akkoc

  4. Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey

    Berna Ozdem

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  1. Sakine Akar
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  2. Mustafa Cakir
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  3. Halil Ozkol
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  4. Senem Akkoc
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  5. Berna Ozdem
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the concept and design of the study. The design and synthesis of the benzimidazolium salt used in the study was carried out by Senem AKKOC. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were carried out by [Sakine AKAR], [Mustafa CAKIR] and [Halil OZKOL]. The first draft of the article was written by [Sakine AKAR], and all authors commented on previous versions of the article. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Sakine Akar.

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The original online version of this article was revised: The author 'Berna Ozdem' affiliated with 'Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey' is included as fifth author in the article.

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Akar, S., Cakir, M., Ozkol, H. et al. A benzimidazolium salt induces apoptosis and arrests cells at sub-G1 phase in epithelial ovarian cancer cells. Mol Biol Rep 51, 66 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-023-08981-6

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