Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2026
Therapy Testing in a Spheroid-based 3D Cell Culture Model for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Published on: April 20, 2018
[Effects of hypericin associated with radiotherapy on human laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma strain Hep-2]
Yuxin Sun1, Hongjun Xu, Shuai Tang
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Jilin University China-Japan Union Hospital, Changchun. syxmy2002@sina.com
Objective:
To study effects of hypericin associated with radiotherapy on human laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma strain Hep-2.
Method:
Using techniques of tumor cells culture in vitro, Hep-2 cells were exposed to different concentration hypericin as 0, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 microg/ml, then 5 Gy radiation were given after an hour. Other groups Hep-2 culture cells were also exposed to different concentration hypericin as 5, 10, 20, 25 microg/ml, and no radiation were given. In all groups, contrast group was set up. And 48 hours later, growth characteristics of Hep-2 were studied by morphological observation, MTT assay and flow cytometry.
Result:
In normal contrast group, Hep-2 cells grew intensively and contacted with each other. And cellular swelling was found when Hep-2 cells were only treated with radiotherapy. When Hep-2 cells were treated with both Hypericin and radiotherapy, more cells swelled and cell number declined greatly. In higher dose Hypericin group, necrosis could be found. MTT assay showed the Hep-2 cells growth was significantly inhibited when treated with both hypericin and radiotherapy. Flow cytometry showed hypericin could block cell growth at G0/G1 phase and induced laryngeal cells into apoptosis whether with radiotherapy or not. But Hep-2 cells only treated with hypericin could not get same powerful effect as combination with radiotherapy.
Conclusion:
Human laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma strain Hep-2 can be inhibited and induced into apoptosis by treated with hypericin combination with radiotherapy.
