Sensitization of K562 Leukemia Cells to Doxorubicin by the Viscum album Extract

Abstract

Toxicity of conventional chemotherapeutics highlights the requirement for complementary or alternative medicines that would reduce side effects and improve their anticancer effectiveness. European mistletoe (Viscum album) has long been used as a complementary and alternative medicine supporting cancer therapy. The aim of this study was to investigate synergistic antitumor action of V. album extract and doxorubicin during co-treatment of chemoresistant chronic myelogenic leukemia K562 cells. Combined treatment of leukemia cells led to inhibitory synergism at sub-apoptotic doxorubicin concentrations and multifold reduction of cytotoxic effects in healthy control cells. Prolonged co-treatment was associated with reduced G2/M accumulation and increased expression of early and late apoptotic markers. Our data indicate that V. album extract increases antileukemic effectiveness of doxorubicin against resistant K562 cells by preventing G2/M arrest and inducing apoptosis.

Iscador Qu inhibits doxorubicin-induced senescence of MCF7 cells

“…In this study we report for the first time that VAE potently inhibits chemotherapy induced senescence and triggers apoptosis. We have also confirmed previous reports describing selective anti-tumor toxicity of VAE/Isc Qu 66 . We show that 72 h MCF7 cell treatment with sub-apoptotic Dox concentrations induces G2/M cell cycle arrest, senescence and SASP which were blocked by cotreatment with Isc Qu.…”

“…We have previously shown that Viscum album/ aqueous extract (VAE) increases anti-leukemic effectiveness of doxorubicin by preventing G2/M arrest and inducing apoptosis 66 . The aim of this study was to investigate whether Viscum album preparation (Iscador Qu) potentiates Dox toxicity at sub-therapeutic concentrations in MCF7 ER + breast cancer cells as well as its mechanism of action.…”

ViscumTT induces apoptosis and alters IAP expression in osteosarcoma in vitro and has synergistic action when combined with different chemotherapeutic drugs

“…Some studies were even able to show an enhancement of cytotoxicity when chemotherapy was combined with VAE in vitro [28]. An optimal anti-tumor effect was demonstrated in K562 leukaemia cells after co-treatment with VAE and sub-apoptotic doxorubicin concentrations [27]. Also, VP16 led to an enhanced apoptosis induction after combined incubation with ML-I [17].…”

“…Additionally, the impact of various conventional chemotherapeutic drugs can be increased by VAEs as was recently shown in leukaemia cells [27], breast carcinoma and pancreatic cancer cells [28]. The influence of viscumTT co-treatment of osteosarcoma with standard chemotherapy such as doxorubicin (Doxo), etoposide (VP16) and ifosfamide (4OOH) was investigated in this study.…”

Distribution of mistletoe (Viscum album L.), which parasitizes different woody plants species, in Kyiv and its genetic characteristics

“…За співіснування рослини з омелою спостерігається специфічний симбіоз, тобто співжиття двох організмів, яке має значний вплив на обидва види. Крім того, ця рослина має великий як науковий, так і практичний інтерес для фахівців різних галузей, адже в усіх частинах рослини V. album синтезуються та накопичуються різноманітні хімічні речовини (алкалоїди, флавоноїди, феноли, аміни, терпени, віскотоцин, лецитин, теонін, вітамін С, гістамін та інші), більшість із яких має певний інтерес для медицини [10,11].…”