Alpha-tocopherol succinate inhibits growth of gastric cancer cells in vitro

Background. Vitamin E in the form of alpha-tocopherol succinate (ATS) has b een shown to inhibit growth of several cancer cell lines in vitro, includin g pancreas, breast, and prostate. No data exist on the effect of ATS on gas tric cancer cell viability. Methods. A gastric cancer cell line in suspension form, KATO-III, was plate d in 96-well plates at 30,000 cells per well with 100 mul RPMI media. The c ells were allowed to incubate for 24 h and were then treated with ATS at do ses of 25, 50, or 100 mug/ml. The ATS was dissolved in 1% EtOH solution and control cells received an identical solution of EtOH without ATS. Treated cells were incubated for 24, 48, or 72 h. At the completion of the treatmen t period, MTT assay was performed to determine cell viability. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t test. Results. All doses of ATS resulted in inhibition of growth of the KATO-III cells. Both 100 and 50 mug/cc doses inhibited growth at all time points (P < 0.005), with 48- and 72-h treatments more effective than 24-h treatment. At 24 and 48 h, 100 <mu>g/cc was more effective at inhibition of growth tha n 50 mug/ml (P < 0.005), but by 72 h the effects of the doses were equivale nt; 25 <mu>g/ml inhibited cell growth only at 48 and 72 h. At all time poin ts, 50 and 100 mug/ml doses were more effective at inhibiting cell growth t han 25 mug/ml. Conclusions. ATS inhibits gastric carcinoma cell growth in vitro in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. In vivo studies are indicated to further evalu ate the potential benefit of this antioxidant against gastric cancer. (C) 2 001 Academic Press.