esculetin and Melanoma

Human tyrosinase (

Topics: Agaricales; Amino Acid Sequence; Biological Factors; Drug Delivery Systems; Drug Design; Enzyme Inhibitors; Humans; Melanins; Melanocytes; Melanoma; Monophenol Monooxygenase; Pigmentation; Protein Structure, Secondary; Skin Lightening Preparations

(1) Malignant melanomas are dangerous skin cancers, and the treatment of melanomas with various cytostatic drugs often causes side effects and after their prolonged use resistance to these drugs appears. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anticancer effects of esculetin (a simple coumarin) and to assess pharmacodynamic interactions between esculetin and six commonly used cytostatic drugs (cisplatin, epirubicin, docetaxel, paclitaxel, mitoxantrone and vemurafenib) using an isobolographic analysis. (2) The experiments were carried out on four human malignant melanoma cell lines (FM55P, A375, FM55M2 and SK-MEL28). The effects of esculetin on viability, cell proliferation and cytotoxicity were verified in the range of concentrations of 2-200 μM. (3) Esculetin inhibited, in a dose-dependent manner, malignant melanoma cell viability and proliferation. The IC

Topics: Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Cell Line; Cell Line, Tumor; Cisplatin; Cytostatic Agents; Docetaxel; Epirubicin; Humans; Melanoma; Mitoxantrone; Paclitaxel; Vemurafenib

Metastasis is a complex process, almost a cascade, involving multiple steps and activities. However, an important factor is that malignant cells are able to penetrate through the multiple basement membrane barriers surrounding tissues, blood vessels, nerves and muscle that would otherwise block their dissemination. Penetration of malignant tumor cells through basement membrane is an active process requiring proteolysis. We report here that inhibitors of both the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism convert mouse melanoma and human fibrosarcoma cells to a non invasive state by reducing the production of MMP-2, an enzyme required for the degradation of basement membranes. Specific metabolites of each pathway, i.e. PGF2 alpha and 5-HPETE, are able to transcend the block and restore collagenase production, invasiveness in vitro and metastatic activity in vivo. These studies indicate a key role for arachidonic acid metabolites in metastasis and suggest novel therapeutic approaches for inhibiting the spread of cancer.

Topics: Animals; Arachidonic Acid; Caffeine; Collagen; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; Dinoprost; Drug Combinations; Extracellular Matrix; Fibrosarcoma; Gelatinases; Humans; Indoles; Indomethacin; Laminin; Leukotrienes; Lipoxygenase Inhibitors; Masoprocol; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; Melanoma; Metalloendopeptidases; Mice; Neoplasm Metastasis; Proteoglycans; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Umbelliferones