RESUMO
Inositol 6-phosphate (IP-6) has demonstrated novel anti-cancer activity using several different tumor models. IP-6, or phytic acid, has antioxidant properties that directly act to inhibit cancer cell growth. In previous experiments using Hep-2 cells treated with a single treatment dose of IP-6 (1 mM) showed decreases in number only after 72 hours. The goal of this experiment was to deliver IP-6 in a sustained continuous manner for periods of 24, 48 and 72 hours to Hep-2 cancer cells and compare the changes in cell growth and morphology after a single bolus dose of IP-6. Our results indicated that IP-6 administered as a bolus dose was unable to reduce Hep-2 cell numbers after 24 hours. By 48 and 72 hours an approximate 50% increase in cell numbers were seen in the single dose treatment group. Sustained delivery of IP-6 resulted in significant reduction of cells over 48 hours. The dose of IP-6 given (1 mM) did not induce changes in cellular protein concentrations nor increase cellular membrane damage. Morphologically, the Hep-2 cell appear small, round to cuboidal in shape with dark eccentric nuclei and scant cytoplasm. After treatment with 1 mM IP-6, the cells showed evidence of degeneration with irregular cell borders and hyperchromatic nuclei. Overall, 1 mM IP-6 was unable to reduce Hep-2 cell proliferation for periods greater than 48 hours; however, further evaluation of the Hep-2 cytology revealed significant cellular degenerative changes that warrant additional studies to understand the action of IP-6.
