Tetrandrine induces cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 boundary and Cell Death in vitro pancreatic cancer cells

IntroductionDeregulated cell cycle control/s are a hallmark of cancer, including Pancreatic Cancer. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer related deaths in the United States with an overall five-year survival rate of less than five percent. The current standard treatment/s for PDAC are largely ineffective. There is an urgent yet unmet need for development of therapeutic agents for the treatment of PDAC. In the present study, we investigated the effects of Tetrandrine derivative (TET), a bis-benylisoquinoline alkaloid, on cell cycle progression and, growth and viability of pancreatic cancer in vitro. MethodsPancreatic Cancer cell lines: PANC-1 (epitheloid carcinoma), BxPC3 (Pancreatic Ductal Adeno-Carcinoma) and MiaPaCa2 (pancreatic carcinoma) were used in the study. Cell lines were treated with various concentrations of TET for different time points. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using the Crystal violet and MTT survival assays. Cell cycle was analyzed following PI sta...