Casticin: A Promising Candidate to Develop a Stem Cell Targeted Strategy in AML Treatment

Abstract

Purpose: Acute myeloid leukemia is the most common form of acute leukemia with genetic and epigenetic heterogeneity. Although current therapeutic agents provide successful remission, 5-year survival rates are still low. Insufficiency of targeting leukemia stem cells is considered as the main obstacle that causes drug resistance and relapse. Phytochemicals remain a promising source for targeted drug research. Studies showed that Casticin has antiproliferative effects on leukemic cells, but its effects on leukemic stem cells are still unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the antiproliferative capacity of Casticin on acute myeloid leukemia stem-like (KG1a) cells and its relatively mature parental (KG1) cells in comparison with healthy peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Method: The antiproliferative effects of Casticin on cells and IC50 values were determined by MTT test. The effects of Casticin on caspase 3/7 activity, apoptosis and necrosis in cells were evaluated by flow cytometry and TUNEL assays. Results: 2 μM Casticin treatment for 24 h was increased apoptotic cell death and caspase 3/7 activation in KG1 (27.2%; 17.30%; p