Cytotoxic activity of R-amphinase, an anti-tumor endoribonuclease, on diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cells in conditions

Abstract

Onconase (ONC) and R-Amphinase (R-AM) are enzymes with anti-tumor activity, belonging to pancreatic ribonuclease A family, received from eggs collected from frog Rana pipiens. Both proteins can induce death of some types of neoplastic cells by inhibition of protein synthesis, cell growth and proliferation. The aim of this study was to assess the cytotoxicity of R-AM, used alone or in combination with one of the most active anti-leukemic drug, doxorubicin (DOX), on diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL)-derived cell line, Toledo. We found high cytotoxic activity of R-AM against DLBCL cells as well as influence on expression of several apoptosis-regulating proteins. Moreover, we observed increase in proapoptotic activity after combination of R-AM and DOX, compared with both drugs used alone. These results may justify further studies on interactions of R-AM with other drugs active in DLBCL.