Synergistic action of tiazofurin and genistein in human ovarian carcinoma cells.

Tiazofurin, an oncolytic drug, reduces PI kinase activity and arrests chiefly in S phase. Genistein, an inhibitor of PIP kinase, tyrosine kinase, and topoisomerase-II, induces arrest in G2 and/or early M phase in most carcinoma cells. Both tiazofurin and genistein reduce second messenger IP3 concentration in ovarian carcinoma cells. Because genistein and tiazofurin attack different enzymic targets and arrest the cell cycle at different phases, we tested the hypothesis that tiazofurin might be synergistic with genistein. Human ovarian carcinoma OVCAR-5 cells were grown in flasks in monolayers. In growth inhibition assay for tiazofurin and genistein the IC50s were 26 and 18 microM, respectively, and in clonogenic assays the LC50s were 17 and 4 microM, respectively. Various combinations of the two drugs were tested. The best protocol took into consideration that tiazofurin decreased GTP concentration in cells by 50% at 12 h after administration. Tiazofurin (20 microM) and genistein (20 microM) as single agents reduced cell counts to 60% and 50%, respectively. The predicted value, as a sum of the effect of two drugs, would have been 30% of controls. However, genistein added 12 h after tiazofurin decreased cell counts to 8%, showing synergistic action of the two drugs for growth inhibition. Similar results were observed in the clonogenic assays, which also revealed synergistic cytotoxicity. The protocol yielding synergism might be of value in the clinical treatment of human ovarian carcinoma.