Evaluation the Anti-proliferative Effect of NVP-AUY922 in Combination with Thymoquinone in Colorectal Cancer Cell Lines

 Thymoquinone (TQ) as a natural component and the active herbal complex originate in Nigella sativa seed shows the anti-cancer effects acknowledged in the previous studies. The effects of TQ, its mechanism on colorectal cancer, and its combination with other newly chemotherapeutic agents are unclear. Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) has been upregulated in a number of malignancies. In this survey, we have investigated the impacts of Thymoquinone and NVP-AUY922 (a newly defined resorcinylic isoxazole–based HSP90 inhibitor) on HT-29 colorectal cancer cell lines.

HT-29 cells were seeded and exposed to Thymoquinone and NVP-AUY922 for 24 hours in various concentrations. Cell viability (water-soluble tetrazolium-1) assay was performed. Moreover, in combination cases, various concentrations of both agents examined using cellular viability analysis.

The TQ significantly inhibited cancer cell growth in colorectal cancer cell lines in various combination doses of NVP-AUY922. Treatment with TQ could augment the cytotoxicity of NVP-AUY922 against the HT-29 as compared with that of NVP-AUY922 alone.

Our findings suggested the anti-proliferative effects of TQ and NVP-AUY922 through cytotoxic pathway to induce cell death.