Tumor-specific cytotoxicity and type of cell death induced by benzaldehyde.

We have previously reported that sodium 5,6-benzylidene-L-ascorbate (SBA) induced dramatic antitumor activity in inoperable cancer patients, but induced only marginal tumor specificity in vitro. Here the tumor specificity and type of cell death induced by benzaldehyde (BA), a degradation product of SBA, was investigated, using human tumor cell lines (oral squamous cell carcinoma [OSCC], glioblastoma, myelogenous leukemia) and human normal oral cells (gingival fibroblast, pulp cell, periodontal ligament fibroblast). BA showed much higher tumor-specific cytotoxicity than SBA.

Tumor-specific cytotoxicity and type of cell death induced by sodium 5,6-benzylidene-L-ascorbate.

The cytotoxic activity of sodium 5,6-benzylidene-L-ascorbate (SBA) against eight human cancer cell lines and three human normal cells was investigated, SBA showed slightly higher cytotoxicity against human tumor cell lines, as compared with normal cells, with a tumor-specificity index of 2.0. The human myelogenous leukemia cell lines (HL-60, ML-1, KG-1) were the most sensitive to SBA, followed by human oral squamous cell carcinoma (HSC-2, HSC-3, HSC-4) and human glioblastoma (T98G, U87MG).

Tumor-specific cytotoxicity and type of cell death induced by beta-cyclodextrin benzaldehyde inclusion compound.

The cytotoxicity of beta-cyclodextrin benzaldehyde inclusion compound (CDBA) against human normal and cancer cell lines was investigated. CDBA showed slightly higher cytotoxicity against human tumor cell lines, as compared to normal cells, with a tumor-specificity index of 2.2.

Mitochondrial control of cell death induction by sodium 5,6-benzylidene-L-ascorbate.

Previous studies have demonstrated the dramatic antitumor activity of sodium 5,6-benzylidene-L-ascorbate (SBA). However, the molecular mechanism of this antitumor action is unclear. We investigated the changes in the fine structures of a human submandibular gland carcinoma cell line, HSG, during the cell death induced by SBA.

Sodium 5, 6-benzylidene-L-ascorbate induces in vitro neuronal cell differentiation accompanying apoptosis and necrosis.

Antiproliferative activity through induction of differentiation by chemotherapeutic agents is required for certain types of cancers. Here, we report that a potent antitumor agent, sodium 5, 6-benzylidene-L-ascorbate (SBA), could induce morphological change of human neuroblastoma IMR-32 cells into a ganglion-like cell aggregate (pseudoganglion) having many neurites and the property of cholinergic neurons. Simultaneously with neuronal differentiation, substantial apoptosis and necrosis/type 2 physiological cell death, which is independent of apoptosis and resistant to a broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor, Z-Asp-CH2-DCB, were also observed.