Liposome-coated nano doxorubicin induces apoptosis on oral squamous cell carcinoma CAL-27 cells.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the apoptotic effect of Doxorubicin and its nano-formulated form (Doxil) on oral squamous cell carcinoma CAL-27 cells. DESIGN: Cell viability using MTT assay, mode of cell death using fluorescence analysis, expression of the apoptotic marker caspase-3 using indirect ELISA technique and expression of C-Myc gene using reverse transcriptase and real time PCR. RESULTS: Doxil treatment resulted in a higher percentage of apoptotic cells than doxorubicin treatment, while doxorubicin treatment resulted in a higher percentage of necrotic cells than Doxil treatment. Doxil-treated cells exhibited 3.38-fold higher caspase-3 levels than control cells, while doxorubicin significantly increased caspase-3 levels by 2.72-fold. The percentage of C-Myc mRNA inhibition was 27% in doxorubicin-treated cells and 41% in Doxil-treated cells. CONCLUSIONS: Doxil exerted a higher apoptotic effect on CAL-27 cells compared to doxorubicin. It showed a higher increase in capase-3 level than doxorubicin and also exerted a more percentage of C-Myc mRNA inhibition.