Prodigiosin Inhibits Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion of Nasopharyngeal Cancer Cells

Background/aims: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma remains a devastating and difficult disease to treat. This study explores the antineoplastic effect of prodigiosin on nasopharyngeal cancer cells.

Methods: Human nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE2 cells and human normal nasopharyngeal epithelial NP69 cells were obtained and treated with prodigiosin or fluorouracil (5-FU). Colony formation assay was performed to screen for the optimal experimental concentrations of prodigiosin and 5-FU, and MTT assay was used to examine cell proliferative ability. Flow cytometry was used to examine cell cycle distribution, the scratch test was employed to examine cell migration, and Transwell migration assay (Boyden chamber) was used to study cell invasion.

Results: The optimal concentrations of prodigiosin and 5-FU for treatment were 4 mg/L and 0.35 mg/L, respectively. Both prodigiosin and 5-FU inhibited tumor cell proliferation. The percentage of cells in G0/G1 phase was higher and the percentage of cells in S phase was lower in the prodigiosin and 5-FU groups than in the untreated groups. Both prodigiosin and 5-FU inhibited tumor cell migration and tumor cell invasion.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that prodigiosin can inhibit proliferation, migration, and invasion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells.