Preferential cytotoxicity of caffeic acid phenethyl ester analogues on oral cancer cells

As part of our previous search for new compounds with improved biological a ctivities including antibiotic, antiviral, antiinflammatory, and tumor grow th inhibition activities, we synthesized some caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE)-like compounds from commercially available caffeic acid. Nine chemic als were tested by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay on the growth of buccal mucosal fibroblast (BF), oral submuc osus fibroblast (OSF), neck metastasis of Gingiva carcinoma (GNM), and tong ue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCCa) cells. CAFE and its ethyl analogue show significant cytotoxicity on OSF, GNM, and TSCCa cells, but not on BF cells. The results suggest that CAFE-like compounds may be potential chemotherapy agents against oral cancer. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.