Marine Compounds Selectively Induce Apoptosis in Female Reproductive Cancer Cells but Not in Primary-Derived Human Reproductive Granulosa Cells

Anticancer properties of tyrindoleninone and 6-bromoisatin from Dicathais orbita were tested against physiologically normal primary human granulosa cells (HGC) and reproductive cancer cell lines. Tyrindoleninone reduced cancer cell viability with IC50 values of 39 mu M (KGN; a tumour-derived granulosa cell line), 39 mu M (JAr), and 156 mu M (OVCAR-3), compared to 3516 mu M in HGC. Apoptosis in HGC's occurred after 4 h at 391 mu M tyrindoleninone compared to 20 mu M in KGN cells. Differences in apoptosis between HGC and KGN cells were confirmed by TUNEL, with 66 and 31% apoptotic nuclei at 4 h in KGN and HGC, respectively. These marine compounds therefore have potential for development as treatments for female reproductive cancers.