7 Beta-Hydroxycholesterol Induces Apoptosis And Regulates Cyclooxygenase 2 In Head And Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Objective: To determine whether treatment with 7 beta-hydroxycholesterol (7 beta-HC)would trigger cell death in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines in a dose-dependent fashion.Design: In vitro study.Subjects: The study included HNSCC cell lines SCC9, SCC25, CAL27, and FaDu.Intervention: We treated HNSCC cell lines with increasing doses of 7 beta-HC. Proliferation assays were performed to assess cell viability after treatment. Western blots were carried out to evaluate cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and -2 expression levels.Results: Using proliferation assays and immunocytochemical analysis, we detected significant growth inhibition via apoptosis in 4 different HNSCC cell lines after treatment with 7 beta-HC (P < .001). The 50% inhibitory concentration levels were between 13.19 and 20.79 mu mol/L after 72 hours. Western analysis indicated that COX-2, but not COX-1, levels were suppressed after treatment.Conclusions: Treatment with 7 beta-HC resulted in suppression of HNSCC growth in vitro. Our data warrant further investigations for the potential use of 7 beta-HC as a cytotoxic agent in head and neck cancer.