Inhibition of human small cell lung cancer cell growth by methylprednisolone

Methylprednisolone (MP) inhibited cancer cell growth at concentrations betw een 0 and 2.0 mM. IC50 was 0.96 mM in H82, 0.44 mM in H345, 0.86 mM in H510 A, 0.54 mM in N592 and 0.52 mM in H2081. The growth inhibition was not dist urbed by addition of 1 mu M RU38486. DNA fragmentation were observed in H51 0A and N592 at MP concentration of 0.2 mM. Glucocorticoid (GC) receptor mRN A expression was detectable only in H510A. We concluded that MP has potency as an anti-cancer agent at a high concentration. The effect was probably n ot through GC receptor binding, and growth inhibition was independent of ap optosis induction.