In-vitro toxicity of Ukrain on human Ewing sarcoma cell lines

Claudia Lanvers-Kaminsky, Dorothea-Maria Nolting, Julia Köster, Anke Schroder, Julia Sandkötter, Joachim Boos*

*University Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Albert-Schweitzer-Str.33, D-48129 Münster
Correspondence to: Prof Dr. Joachim Boos, Ph.D. University Children's Hospital Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Albert-Schweitzer Str. 33 48129 Münster

Abstract: Ukrain™ is advertised as a drug for alternative cancer cures with high activity against progressive Ewing sarcomas (EWS). Since preclinical data of Ukrain™ on EWS are not available so far, we analysed the in vitro toxicity of Ukraіn™ on four human EWS cell lines and compared it to the in vitro toxicity of thioTEPA, Chelidonium majus L. alkaloids, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and etoposide. In addition, we studied the toxicity of thioTEPA combined with Chelidonium majus L. alkaloids. Cell viability was determined by the MTT-assay after 48h, 72h, and 96h.
All compounds reduced the growth of EWS cell lines in a time and dose dependent manner. The concentrations which resulted in a growth inhibition of 50% ranged between 6.2 and 31.1 μM for Ukrain™, 1.9 and 26.1 μM for the Chelidonium majus L. extract and 1.7 to 448 μM for thioTEPA. The sensitivity profile of Ukrain™ was comparable to that of the Chelidonium majus L. extract and different from thioTEPA, cyclophosphamide, etoposide, and doxorubicin. Overall doxorubicin was the most toxic drug followed by cyclophosphamide. Ukrain™ and the chelidonium alkaloids were slightly more toxic than etoposide, while thioTEPA showed the lowest toxicity. Co-exposure of thioTEPA with Chelidonium majus L. alkaloids resulted in additive but not in synergistic toxicity.
Though less toxic compared to doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide Ukrain™ was active on Ewing sarcomas in vitro, which might be considered for further preclinical evaluation.