Objective: Evaluating the effect of apoptosis induced by cisplatin in human oral squamous cell carcinoma cells and their cycle specificity.
Methods: Hu man tongue squamous cell carcinoma cell line Tca8113 was used in vitro as a study object. Morphological features of apoptotic cell induced by cisplatin were observed by using of microscope, fluorescence microscope and transmission electronic microscope (TEM). The apoptotic rates were analyzed by DNA fluorescence staining assay and TEM observation. The cell cycle specificity was measured by using flow cytometry.
Results: The cell proliferation of Tca8113 cells was inhibited by cisplatin and their proliferation index decreased. Cells treated with cisplatin became smaller, rounded and then disattached. Red nuclear fragmentation with condensed chromatin was observed under fluorescence staining assay. Condensation and crack of nucleus and apoptotic bodies appeared in apoptotic Tca8113 cells observed under TEM. Cell cycle of Tca8113 cells was apparently arrested at S by cisplatin.
Conclusion: Apoptosis was induced by cisplatin in Tca8113 cells, and it may be an important mechanism of SCC killed by cisplatin.