Investigating the role of quercetin in increasing the rate of cisplatin-induced apoptosis via the NF-KB pathway in MG-63 cancer cells

Abstract

Quercetin exerts its anti-cancer activity through various mechanisms, including suppression of the proliferative process, antioxidant function, and induction of apoptosis. Numerous studies suggest that concomitant use of some chemotherapy drugs with flavonoids such as quercetin may increase cancer cells' susceptibility to these drugs. Therefore, in the present study, we will investigate quercetin's role in increasing the rate of induced cell apoptosis alone or in combination with cisplatin via the NF-κB signaling pathway on the osteosarcoma MG-63 cancer cell line. Methods: The cells will be cultured in RPMI-1640 medium containing 10% FBS. They will then be treated with a combination of quercetin and cisplatin. Their cytotoxic effects on the cells will be evaluated in 72 hours, and their ideal concentration alone and combination with each other using the MTT assay. Next, the ELISA method's amount of NF-κB protein in cells treated with quercetin alone or with cisplatin. Flow cytometry will be used to evaluate cell apoptosis. Results: This study showed that the combined treatment of quercetin with cisplatin increased the cytotoxic effects of cisplatin compared with treatment with quercetin or cisplatin alone. Besides, quercetin induces cisplatin-induced apoptosis in human osteosarcoma (MG-63 cell line) by down-regulating the NF-κB pathway.