Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Assessing Cell Viability and Death in 3D Spheroid Cultures of Cancer Cells
Published on: June 16, 2019
Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) induces apoptosis or autophagy-associated cell death in chondrosarcoma cell
Shunsaku Yamamoto1, Kazuhiro Tanaka, Riku Sakimura
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Background:
Since chondrosarcoma has a high resistance to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy, surgical resection is currently the only effective treatment. Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor exert anticancer effects, but have not been tested in chondrosarcoma.
Materials And Methods:
We investigated the phenotypic change in chondrosarcoma cells treated with SAHA by cell viability assay, Western blot, flow cytometric analysis and electron microscopy.
Results:
SAHA inhibited the growth of chondrosarcoma cell lines and induced apoptosis in SW1353 with a cleaved-PARP expression and sub-G1 fragmentation according to flow cytometric analysis. On the other hand, in RCS and OUMS-27, SAHA induced autophagy-associated cell death as shown by the detection of autophagosome-specific protein and specific ultrastructural morphology in the cytoplasm. In addition, SAHA significantly inhibited tumor growth in an in vivo xenograft model.
Conclusion:
These results suggest that SAHA might be a promising agent for performing clinically useful chemotherapy against chondrosarcomas.
Insights
Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor SAHA shows promise for treating chondrosarcoma, a cancer resistant to traditional therapies. SAHA effectively inhibited tumor growth and induced cell death through apoptosis and autophagy in preclinical models.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Chondrosarcoma exhibits high resistance to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
- Surgical resection remains the primary treatment modality for chondrosarcoma.
- Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors have demonstrated anticancer effects but remain untested in chondrosarcoma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of SAHA, a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, against chondrosarcoma.
- To explore the mechanisms of cell death induced by SAHA in chondrosarcoma cells.
Main Methods:
- Phenotypic changes in chondrosarcoma cells treated with SAHA were analyzed.
- Methods included cell viability assays, Western blot, flow cytometry, and electron microscopy.
- In vivo efficacy was assessed using a xenograft tumor model.
Main Results:
- SAHA inhibited chondrosarcoma cell line growth and induced apoptosis in SW1353 cells, evidenced by cleaved-PARP and sub-G1 DNA fragmentation.
- In RCS and OUMS-27 cell lines, SAHA triggered autophagy-associated cell death, confirmed by autophagosome markers and ultrastructural changes.
- SAHA significantly suppressed tumor growth in an in vivo xenograft model.
Conclusions:
- SAHA demonstrates potent anticancer activity against chondrosarcoma in vitro and in vivo.
- SAHA induces distinct cell death pathways, including apoptosis and autophagy, in different chondrosarcoma cell lines.
- SAHA represents a promising therapeutic agent for clinical development in chondrosarcoma treatment.
Related Concept Videos
Autophagic Cell Death
Autophagy and Apoptosis
Autophagy can activate apoptosis. In normal conditions, the autophagy activating protein Beclin-1 and pro-apoptotic...
The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway
Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy
The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway
Apoptosis
