Polyamine transporter recognization and antitumor effects of anthracenymethyl homospermidine

This study was conducted to examine the polyamine transporter (PAT) recognization and antitumor effects of anthracenymethyl homospermidine (ANTMHspd) and its apoptotic mechanism in B16 melanoma cells. ANTMHspd promoted a dose-dependent apoptosis in B16 melanoma cells and the apoptosis was associated with the excellent PAT recognization, externalization of cell membrane phosphatidylserine and the disruption of mitochondria, these processes were correlated with up-regulation of polyamine oxidase, an increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and oxidative stress. In addition, reduction of MMP, release of cytochrome c, up-regulation of Bax protein expression, down-regulation of Bcl-2 protein expression, and activation of caspase-3, caspase-9 were also observed in B16 cells after treatment with ANTMHspd. Furthermore, N-acetylcysteine obviously antagonized ANTMHspd-induced apoptosis. Importantly, ANTMHspd was found to be better tolerated and revealed potent antitumor effect on inhibiting tumor growth in situ and suppressing pulmonary metastasis in xenograft mice model. These data demonstrate that ANTMHspd is an excellent PAT recognization and potent antitumor agent.