Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 15, 2026

Potentiation of Anticancer Antibody Efficacy by Antineoplastic Drugs: Detection of Antibody-drug Synergism Using the Combination Index Equation
15:04

Potentiation of Anticancer Antibody Efficacy by Antineoplastic Drugs: Detection of Antibody-drug Synergism Using the Combination Index Equation

Published on: January 19, 2019

13.0K

Combination of cyclophosphamide and double-stranded DNA demonstrates synergistic toxicity against established

Ekaterina A Alyamkina1, Valeriy P Nikolin1, Nelly A Popova2

  • 1Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 10 Lavrentieva ave, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia.

Cancer Cell International
|March 24, 2015
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Fragmented double-stranded DNA, alone or with cyclophosphamide, demonstrated cytotoxic effects on mouse Krebs-2 tumors and human MCF-7 cells. This treatment induced significant apoptosis and necrosis, impacting tumor growth and cell viability.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Research
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Extracellular double-stranded DNA plays diverse roles in biological systems.
  • Investigating the therapeutic potential of DNA in cancer treatment is an emerging area.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the suppressive effects of fragmented human double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) on solid and ascites forms of mouse Krebs-2 tumor cells.
  • To assess the impact of dsDNA on the human breast adenocarcinoma cell line MCF-7.
  • To examine the combined effects of dsDNA and cyclophosphamide on tumor cells.

Main Methods:

  • Assessing apoptosis via DNA nucleosomal fragmentation and necrosis through LDH levels.
  • Analyzing DNA internalization in MCF-7 cells using flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy.
  • Treating solid and ascites Krebs-2 tumors and MCF-7 cells with dsDNA and/or cyclophosphamide.

Main Results:

  • Direct cytotoxic activity of dsDNA, with or without cyclophosphamide, was observed against solid tumors, leading to delayed proliferation and partial lysis.
  • Ascites tumors exhibited extensive apoptosis and secondary necrosis following dsDNA treatment.
  • MCF-7 cells showed a significant induction of apoptosis (up to 45%) upon treatment with dsDNA preparation.

Conclusions:

  • Double-stranded DNA, alone or combined with cyclophosphamide, effectively induces massive apoptosis in Krebs-2 ascites cells and MCF-7 cells.
  • In vivo, dsDNA treatment reduced the integrity of gut wall cells, contributing to a systemic inflammatory response.
Keywords:
ApoptosisAscites Krebs-2CyclophosphamideDouble-stranded DNAMCF-7NecrosisSepsis

More Related Videos

Testing Targeted Therapies in Cancer using Structural DNA Alteration Analysis and Patient-Derived Xenografts10:27

Testing Targeted Therapies in Cancer using Structural DNA Alteration Analysis and Patient-Derived Xenografts

Published on: July 25, 2020

8.1K
A Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell PBMC Engrafted Humanized Xenograft Model for Translational Immuno-oncology I-O Research08:17

A Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell PBMC Engrafted Humanized Xenograft Model for Translational Immuno-oncology I-O Research

Published on: August 15, 2019

15.7K

Related Concept Videos

Combined Effects of Drugs: Synergism01:27

Combined Effects of Drugs: Synergism

Synergism is a useful mechanism where combining two or more drugs is more effective than each constituent used alone. Such combinations are also called supra-additive interactions. The drugs collectively enhance the final therapeutic effect by acting on different targets. Another advantage is that the low dose of each constituent drug is sufficient to achieve the desired effect. This helps reduce the duration of therapy and lower the adverse effects of these drugs.
Such synergistic combinations...
8.0K
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
6.4K
Treatment Resistant Cancers02:56

Treatment Resistant Cancers

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...
3.9K
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
9.2K