ABSTRACT
Purpose:To explore the in vitro effects of apoptosis induction of 2-methoxyestradiol(2ME2),an estrogen derivative on primary myeloma cells and hematopoietic precursors from multiple myeloma patients. Methods:The primary myeloma cells and hematopoietic precursors from 14 multiple myeloma patients were examined determine apoptosis cells in situ by terminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL)assay. Results:After co-cultured with different concentrations (1,4,16?mol/L) 2 ME2 for 48h respectively,apoptotic ratios of myeloma cells were 10.5? 1.2%,21.2?2.3%,36.8?3.6% respectively ,which shows a concentration- dependence.In comparision with the control group,the difference is of statistical significance(P0.05). Conclusions:2ME2 could electively induce apoptosis of primary myeloma cells from myeloma patients and has little apoptotic effect on granulocytic,erythrocytic and lymphocytic cells in the bone marrow.