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Using Deuterium Oxide as a Non-Invasive, Non-Lethal Tool for Assessing Body Composition and Water Consumption in Mammals
Published on: February 20, 2020
In vitro assessment of antineoplastic effects of deuterium depleted water
Saeed Soleyman-Jahi1, Kazem Zendehdel, Kambiz Akbarzadeh
1Cancer Research Center, Cancer Institute of Iran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Background:
In vitro, in vivo and clinical studies have demonstrated anti-cancer effects of deuterium depleted water (DDW). The nature of this agents action, cytotoxic or cytostatic, remains to be elucidated. We here aimed to address the point by examining effects on different cell lines.
Materials And Methods:
3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol- 2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) -based cytotoxicity analysis was conducted for human breast, stomach, colon, prostate cancer and glioblastoma multiforme cell lines as well as human dermal fibroblasts. The cell lines were treated with decreasing deuterium concentrations of DDW alone, paclitaxel alone and both. One way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for statistical analysis.
Results:
Treatment with different deuterium concentrations of DDW alone did not impose any significant inhibitory effects on growth of cell lines. Paclitaxel significantly decreased the survival fractions of all cell lines. DDW augmented paclitaxel inhibitory effects on breast, prostate, stomach cancer and glioblastoma cell lines, with influence being more pronounced in breast and prostate cases.
Conclusions:
DDW per se does not appear to have inhibitory effects on the assessed tumor cell lines as well as normal fibroblasts. As an adjuvant, however, DDW augmented inhibitory effects of paclitaxel and thus it could be considered as an adjuvant to conventional anticancer agents in future trials.
Insights
Deuterium depleted water (DDW) alone shows no anti-cancer effect. However, DDW enhances paclitaxel
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Deuterium depleted water (DDW) has demonstrated anti-cancer effects in various studies.
- The precise mechanism of DDW's action (cytotoxic or cytostatic) requires further clarification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cytotoxic or cytostatic effects of DDW on various cancer cell lines.
- To determine if DDW acts as an adjuvant to conventional chemotherapy.
Main Methods:
- Utilized MTT-based cytotoxicity assays on human breast, stomach, colon, prostate cancer, and glioblastoma multiforme cell lines, alongside normal dermal fibroblasts.
- Administered decreasing concentrations of DDW alone, paclitaxel alone, and a combination of DDW and paclitaxel.
- Employed one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for statistical analysis.
Main Results:
- DDW alone did not significantly inhibit the growth of any tested cell lines.
- Paclitaxel treatment significantly reduced the survival fractions across all cell lines.
- DDW notably augmented the inhibitory effects of paclitaxel, particularly in breast and prostate cancer cell lines.
Conclusions:
- DDW alone does not exhibit direct inhibitory effects on the studied tumor cell lines or normal fibroblasts.
- DDW acts as an effective adjuvant, enhancing the efficacy of paclitaxel.
- DDW shows potential as an adjunct therapy in future clinical trials for conventional anticancer treatments.

