The Synergistic Effect of Theranekron and Cisplatin on the Neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) Cell Line.

Aim: To assess the combined antitumor potential of theranekron (Trn) and cisplatin in neuroblastoma (NB), a pediatric tumor characterized by high prevalence and mortality rates. The investigation involved examining the interaction between theranekron (10-100 ?M) and cisplatin (40 ?M) within this cell line.

Material and methods: The cytotoxicity of Trn was evaluated using MTT assays, cell volume analyses, apoptosis assessments, and measurements of mitochondrial membrane potential. These evaluations were conducted over a 24-hour incubation period.

Results: The coadministration of 100 µM Trn with cisplatin exhibited a cytotoxic effect of approximately 60%. Furthermore, it led to a reduction of up to 38% in cell volume. Notably, SH-SY5Y cells demonstrated an early apoptosis rate of 34.4%, accompanied by an eightfold decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential compared to the control group.

Conclusion: Trn demonstrated synergism and significantly enhanced the efficacy of cisplatin (p < 0.001). Nevertheless, further in-depth investigations are necessary to elucidate the intricacies of these synergistic effects.