Investigation of the Effects of Genistein and Fenretinide on Ovarian Cancer Cells

Abstract

The effects of the fenretinide and genistein as single or combined drugs on ovarian cancer proliferation and viability were investigated.

Hypothesis: Co-treatment with genistein will enable a lower dose of fenretinide to be effective in inhibiting the proliferation and survival of ovarian cancer cells. Methods: Low and high doses of genistein and fenretinide were tested on A2780s and A2780cp cells using trypan blue viable cell count, MTS assay. Results and conclusions: Unlike low doses of fenretinide, genistein had anti-proliferative effects on both cell lines. There were no additive or synergistic effects of the two compounds. Higher dose treatments induced anti-proliferative effects and apoptotic cell death in both A2780s and A2780cp cells, with a greater sensitivity of A2780s cells to both test compounds. Overall Conclusion: Genistein and higher doses of fenretinide similarly impair cell cycle progression and induce apoptosis. The anti-proliferative effects of genistein can be affected by co-treatment with fenretinide