Abstract

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the pathological type of oral cancer. Chemotherapy has become increasingly effective in OSCC therapy. Of these agents, Doxorubicin (Dox) is the most efficient cytotoxic agent but is prevented by cardiac toxicity. Several experimental results demonstrated the use of a combination of low-toxic secondary metabolites, such as polyphenols, to reduce the required dose of cytotoxic agents in cancer treatment.

Objective: The study aims to analyze the influence of Dox alone and its combination with pyrogallol (PG), a phenolic extract on the tongue SCC-25-cell, and to evaluate possible apoptotic pathways in the SCC-25 cells. 

Methods: Image morphometric analysis for the estimation of nuclear area factor (NAF) and Evaluation of caspase-3 fold change by Real-Time PCR.

Results: The data recorded showed a significant decrease in the mean values of NAF of SCC-25 cells treated with different concentrations of Dox and its combination with PG. While, the combination revealed the least in the mean values of NAF when compared to control cells. Also, the combination induced apoptosis by simultaneous up-regulation of caspase-3.

 Conclusions: The combined use of Dox and PG may increase the effectiveness of treatment and reduce negative side effects.