Antitumor Activity from the Combined Application of Poly(I:C) and Chemotherapeutics in Human Metastatic Pharyngeal Cell Lines

作者：Matijevic Tanja; Kirinec Gabriela; Pavelic Jasminka^*

来源：Chemotherapy, 2011, 57(6): 460-467.

DOI：10.1159/000334122

• Poly(I:C)
• Apoptosis
• Toll-like receptor 3
• Chemotherapy
• Anticancer therapy

Background: Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) activation in tumor cells induces apoptosis. We investigated the effect of TLR3 ligand (poly(I: C)) in combination with chemotherapeutics applied to human pharyngeal carcinoma cells as a possible antitumor therapy. Methods: Human pharyngeal cancer cell lines were studied (FaDu and Detroit 562). Cytotoxicity assays and apoptosis assays (annexin V staining and caspase 3/7 activity measurements) were used to investigate the cytotoxic effects. By using TLR3 siRNA we confirmed that the observed effect is TLR3-dependent. Results: We found that the combined application of poly(I: C) and chemotherapeutics (cisPt, HU, 5-FU and MTX) has a stronger inhibitory effect on cell growth in tumor cells expressing functional TLR3 as compared with a single treatment. This is a result of TLR3-dependent apoptosis. Conclusion: Our study showed that a combined application of the two agents already being used in tumor therapy could lower the necessary dosage of chemotherapeutics, leading to fewer side effects.

• 出版日期2011