Comparison of anticancer effects of carbamazepine and valproic acid

Abstract EN

Background : Valproic acid (VPA)andcarbamazepine (CBZ),twowidely used antiepileptic drugs, have recentlybeenfound to inhibit histone deacetylases (HDAC).

HDAC inhibitors (HDACIs) have various effects on cancer cells.

Objectives : The aim of this study was to compare the anticancer activity of these drugs on SW480 colon cancer cell lines.

Methods : In the present experimental study, implemented during 2014 - 2015 in Iran, after incubation of cells into 96-well plates with 5,500 cells/well, the tested drugs were added, and cytotoxic effects were assessed by MTT.

Moreover, after incubation of 8_106 cells in 75 cm2 flasks to obtain _-catenin levels and 106 cells in a six-well plate to obtain vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels , these levels were estimated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analysis.

Results : Through MTT assay, we found that the inhibitory concentration of 50% (IC50) values for VPA and CBZ were 2.5 mM and 5 _M, respectively in comparison to controls in terms of total concentration and times evaluated (P < 0.0001).

We also found that treatments with these drugs decreased levels of _-catenin (P < 0.0001) and VEGF (P < 0.0001) significantly more than controls.

Conclusions : VPA and CBZ treatments caused a decrease in_-Catenin and VEGF levels in SW480 colon cancer cell lines.

These results suggest that CBZ can be considered a potential antitumor drug with potencies different from VPA.