<b> <i>In vitro</i> </b> Effects of the BH3 Mimetic, (−)-Gossypol, on Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells

Abstract

There is a direct correlation between Bcl-xL-to-Bcl-xS ratios and sensitivity to (-)-gossypol. This agent induced apoptosis in a much higher proportion of cells with wild-type p53. Importantly, cell lines resistant to cisplatin were very sensitive to (-)-gossypol. These results demonstrate that (-)-gossypol has potent antitumor activity in HNSCC in vitro. This agent may be developed as a novel therapeutic agent for HNSCC, either alone or in combination with existing chemotherapeutic agents.