Demonstrating drug treatment efficacies by monitoring superoxide
dynamics in human lung cancer cells with time-lapse fluorescence
microscopy
Abstract
Metformin hydrochloride, an antihyperglycemic agent, and sulindac, a
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, are FDA-approved drugs known to
exert anticancer effects. Previous studies demonstrated sulindac and
metformin’s anticancer properties through mitochondrial dysfunction and
inhibition of mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) complex I, as
well as key signaling pathways. In this study, various drugs were
adminsitered to A549 lung cancer cells, and results revealed that a
combination of sulindac and metformin enhanced cell death compared to
administration of the drugs separately. To measure superoxide production
over time, we employed a time-lapse fluorescence imaging technique using
mitochondrial-targeted hydroethidine. Fluorescence microscopy data
showed largest increases in superoxide production in the combination
treatment of metformin and sulindac. Results showed significant
differences between the combined drug treatment and control groups, as
well as between the positive control and control groups. This approach
can be utilized to quantify anticancer efficacy of drugs, creating
possibilities for additional therapeutic options.