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Updated: Aug 16, 2026

Modeling Chemotherapy Resistant Leukemia In Vitro
Published on: February 9, 2016
Alternative medicine remedies might stimulate viability of leukemic cells
Jan Styczynski1, Mariusz Wysocki
1Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Collegium Medicum of Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University of Torun, Bydgoszcz, Poland. jstyczynski@cm.umk.pl
Objective:
Ex vivo activity of three products of alternative therapy against leukemic and normal cells was analyzed.
Material And Methods:
Extracts of Viscum album, Uncaria tomentosa, and Croton lechleri were used for the study. Leukemic cells of 53 children with acute leukemias and four cell lines, Jurkat, CCRF-CEM, HL-60, and K-562 were tested for sensitivity to alternative medicine remedies by the MTT assay, cell-cycle analysis and annexin-V binding assay.
Results:
Leukemic cells showed high resistance to tested three compounds of alternative medicine in all performed assays. Additionally, tested remedies stimulated survival of leukemic cells in 45%, 96%, and 83% cases, respectively; while no effect was observed in normal lymphocytes. In combination studies, Viscum album extract did not increase prednisolone and cytarabine cytotoxicity in leukemic cells.
Conclusion:
We conclude that some alternative medicine remedies might stimulate the viability of childhood leukemic cells.
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