Influence of estradiol analogue on cell growth, morphology and death in esophageal carcinoma cells

Abstract

2-Methoxyestradiol-bis-sulphamate is a bis-sulphamoylated derivative of the naturally occurring 17-beta-estradiol metabolite namely 2-methoxyestradiol. 2-Methoxyestradiol-bis-sulphamate is regarded
\nas a potential anticancer drug with increased antiproliferative activity when compared to 2-methoxyestradiol.
\nThe aim of this pilot in vitro study was to determine the influence of 2-methoxyestradiol-bis-sulphamate on cell growth, morphology and possible induction of certain types of cell death in the SNO esophageal carcinoma cell line. A dose-dependent study (0.2-1.0μM) was conducted with an exposure time of 24 hours. Data revealed that 2-methoxyestradiol-bis-sulphamate reduced cell numbers statistically significantly to 74% after exposure to 0.4μM of the drug. Morphological studies including light microscopy demonstrated hallmarks of
\napoptosis, while fluorescent microscopy revealed both the presence of apoptosis and autophagy as types of cell death being induced in SNO cells after 24 hours of exposure to 0.4μM 2-methoxyestradiol-bis-sulphamate.