The Cytotoxic Effect of Nandrolone on Colon Cancer Cell Line and the Evaluation of the Caspase-3, 8 and 9 activity

The studies indicated that sex steroid hormones affect the digestive system function and proliferation of the cancer cells in the cell and molecular level. This study examines the anti-proliferative effects of Nandrolone on colon cancer (HCT) cell line and evaluates the activity of caspases of 3, 8, and 9. In this experimental study, HCT cells were divided into the control group (without treatment) and groups treated with 0.625, 1.25, 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/ml of Nandrolone. The cytotoxic effect of hormone was measured using MTT. The activity level of caspases 3, 8, and 9 were evaluated by the standard kit. The data were compared among the groups using one-way analysis of variance and t-test. HCT cell viability significantly decreased in the groups treated with 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/ml of Nandrolone compared to the control group (p < 0.001); However, caspase 3 and 9 (p < 0.001) and caspase 8 activity (p < 0.01) significantly increased. This study's findings showed that Nandrolone has a cytotoxic effect on colon cancer cells, and this effect is partly mediated by increasing the caspases of 3, 8, and 9 activities.