Induced apoptosis of bladder carcinoma cell line 5637 by podophyllutoxin treatment

Chemotherapy has been used for centuries in cancer therapy. Different compounds and drugs are used in chemotherapy; each is applied for a specific type of cancer. Among them; plant compounds including lignans، have been used in medicine for a long time. Podophyllutoxin is a member of lignans family that is mostly extracted from Podophyllum species. It has multiple biological properties such as antiviral، antifungal and anticancer properties. Considering anticancer property of podophyllutoxin، it is used in Wilm`s tumor and genital tumors treatment. Also، it has been shown that podophyllutoxin causes apoptosis in ovary carcinoma cell line (Hela). There is not yet any report of the effect of podophyllutoxin on bladder carcinoma cell line such as 5637. In this study، we have evaluated the effect of podophyllutoxin on cell viability and apoptosis of 5637 cell line، and we have shown that podophyllutoxin causes apoptosis and death of these cells. It seems that podophyllutoxin can be an active agent to induce apoptosis of cancer cells.