(Z)-3,4,3',5'-tetramethoxystilbene, a natural product, induces apoptosis and reduces viability of paclitaxel-and cisplatin-resistant osteosarcoma cells.

AIM OF STUDY: Osteosarcoma is a common bone tumor and the development of drug resistance in therapy of osteosarcoma is a general rule. The natural compounds isolated from medicinal plants represent a valuable resource for anticancer therapeutics. (Z)-3,4,3', '-tetramethoxystilbene is one of them. In this work, we investigated the potential anti-cancer activities of (Z)-3,4,3' ,'5-tetramethoxystilbene in paclitaxel- and cisplatin-resistant osteosarcoma cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: ATP assay was used to examine cell viability. Cell nuclei staining assays with Hoechst or propidium iodide (PI) were used to evaluate cell apoptosis. Xenograft tumor model was used to evaluate the in vivo anti-cancer activities of (Z )-3,4,3',5'-tetramethoxystilbene. TUNEL staining assay was used to evaluate the apoptosis of tumor cells.

RESULTS: We found that (Z)-3,4,3',5'-tetramethoxystilbene could effectively reduce viability of both paclitaxel-and cisplatin-resistant osteosarcoma cells. Moreover, (Z)-3,4,3',5'-tetramethoxystilbene induced dramatic apoptosis in resistant cells. Importantly, (Z)-3,4,3',5'-tetramethoxystilbene significantly suppressed in vivo tumor growth of cisplatin-resistant osteosarcoma.

CONCLUSION: This is the first report on anti-cancer activity of (Z)-3,4,3','5- tetramethoxystilbene in resistant osteosarcoma cells. Our studies suggest that (Z)-3,4,3',5'-tetramethoxystilbene is a promising therapeutic drug for overcoming drug resistance in osteosarcoma.