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Chemosensitivity of conjunctival melanoma cell lines to target-specific chemotherapeutic agents

  • Oncology
  • Published:
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Abstract

Objective

In conjunctival melanoma, local chemotherapy has been based so far on clinical evidence and limited to the therapy of melanoma in situ. Our aim was to define substances that may have the potential to add to therapeutic options in extended local growth and metastatic disease. Two conjunctival cell lines (CRMM-1 and CRMM-2) have been established from recurrent conjunctival melanoma. In this study, we examined the chemosensitivity of these cell lines to different cytotoxic substances.

Materials and methods

The cell lines CRMM-1 and CRMM-2 were exposed to chemotherapeutics for 24 h and the IC50 was generated. Sulforhodamin-B assays were used for quantification of in vitro efficacy. Time of exposure and escalating concentrations of the substances were adapted to the experimental setting.

Results

Bortezomib, clusianone 502 (nemorosone), ranpirnase, and sorafenib were efficient in inhibiting the growth of conjunctival melanoma cell lines. The IC50 achieved concentrations below or around 10 μM for these substances.

Conclusions

Bortezomib, clusianone 502, ranpirnase, and sorafenib inhibited growth in conjunctival melanoma cell lines efficiently. The new substances may be a suitable alternative for local therapy. New therapeutic options with highly specific targeted agents for metastatic disease have to be evaluated in further experiments.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Mariam Scharifi for her excellent help in performing the experiments and producing the results. We thank Dr. Michael Zeschnigk and Lars Masshöfer (Institute for Humangenetics, University of Duisburg-Essen) for the identification of the cell lines with MSA. The study was funded by the Dr.-Werner-Jackstädt-Stiftung, Wuppertal, Germany, and the Deutsche Ophthalmologische Gesellschaft (DOG).

The results were presented at the DOG-Annual Meeting in Berlin 2011.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45122, Essen, Germany

    Henrike Westekemper, Michael Freistuehler, Norbert Bornfeld & Klaus-Peter Steuhl

  2. Department of Internal Medicine (Cancer Research), West German Cancer Center, Laboratory “Pharmacology of Antineoplastic Substances”, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45122, Essen, Germany

    Max Scheulen & Ralf A. Hilger

  3. Clinic for Internal Medicine, Tumor Research, University of Essen, Hufelandstr. 52, 45122, Essen, Germany

    Ralf A. Hilger

Authors
  1. Henrike Westekemper
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  2. Michael Freistuehler
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  3. Norbert Bornfeld
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  4. Klaus-Peter Steuhl
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  5. Max Scheulen
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  6. Ralf A. Hilger
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ralf A. Hilger.

Additional information

The study was supported by the Dr.-Werner-Jackstädt-Stiftung, Wuppertal, Germany, and the Deutsche Ophthalmologische Gesellschaft (DOG).

The authors have no financial interests to declare. The authors have full control of all primary data and they agree to allow Graefe’s Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology to review the data upon request.

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Westekemper, H., Freistuehler, M., Bornfeld, N. et al. Chemosensitivity of conjunctival melanoma cell lines to target-specific chemotherapeutic agents. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 251, 279–284 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-012-2083-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-012-2083-8

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