RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Gallium Maltolate is a Promising Chemotherapeutic Agent for the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
JF Anticancer Research
JO Anticancer Res
FD International Institute of Anticancer Research
SP 1739
OP 1743
VO 26
IS 3A
A1 CHUA, MEI-SZE
A1 BERNSTEIN, LAWRENCE R.
A1 LI, RUI
A1 SO, SAMUEL K.S.
YR 2006
UL http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/26/3A/1739.abstract
AB Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a particularly lethal cancer with few treatment options. Since gallium is known to accumulate specifically in HCC tumors but not in non-tumor liver, we investigated two gallium compounds, gallium nitrate (GaN) and gallium maltolate (GaM), as potential new agents for treating HCC. Materials and Methods: The anti-proliferative and apoptotic activities of GaN and GaM were assessed in vitro using four HCC cell lines. HCC gene expression data was analyzed to provide a mechanistic rationale for using gallium in the treatment of HCC. Results: Both compounds showed dose-dependent antiproliferative activity in all four HCC cell lines after 6-day drug exposure (IC50 values range from 60-250 μM for gallium nitrate and 25-35 μM for gallium maltolate). Gallium maltolate at 30 μM additionally induced apoptosis after 6 days. HCC gene expression data showed significantly elevated expression of the M2 subunit of ribonucleotide reductase, which is a target for the antiproliferative activity of gallium. Conclusion: These data support clinical testing of gallium maltolate, an orally active compound, in the treatment of HCC.