Inhibition of growth in oral squamous carcinoma cells by cyclopentenone prostaglandins: comparison with chemotherapeutic agents

Four cyclopentenone prostaglandins (CPPGs) and PGE 2 caused significant dose-dependent inhibition in growth of human oral squamous carcinoma cells (SCC-15). The rank order of their potency was PGJ 2 >PGA 1 >16, 16-dimethyl PGA 1 >PGA 2 >PGE 2 . In a follow-up experiment it was found that the mean per cent inhibition in cell growth by PGJ 2 and Δ 12 -PGJ 2 at 10 −5 M was 61.22 and 63.81, while that of 5-fluorouracil and methotrexate was 36.67 and 38.86, respectively. Δ 12 -PGJ 2 and PGJ 2 induced significant dose-dependent inhibition in nuclear DNA synthesis (i.e. cell proliferation). Combining vitamin E succinate with lower concentrations of CPPGs enhanced significantly their inhibitory effect on nuclear DNA synthesis of cancer cells.