Cytotoxic Effect of Nerium Oleander Extract (Anvirzel[TM]) on Bladder Cancer Cells AM Kamat; JI Dehaven; DL Lamm; Morgantown, WV (Presented by Dr. Kamat) Objectives In 1998, 54,400 new cases of bladder cancer and 12,500 bladder cancer deaths will occur in the United States. Despite complete transurethral resection, tumor recurs in 66% and 88% of patients by 5 and 15 years respectively and tumor progression occurs in 24-56% of patients. In Turkey, a water-soluble extract of Nerium (N.) oleander has been used as a remedy against human malignancies with subjective success but without corroborating laboratory data. We attempted to critically evaluate the N. oleander extract as a candidate agent for adjuvant therapy. Methods Three human cell lines, T24, HTB9 and tccSUP, and one mouse cell line, MBT2, were used to test an extract of N. oleander, supplied as Anvirzel[TM] (Ozelle Pharmaceuticals). Doses of Anvirzel[TM] ranging from 0 to 1000 µg/ml (0 µg/ml being control), containing 0-210 µg/ml N. oleander extract, were applied to cell cultures for 1, 2, 24, and 96 hours, with evaluation by MTT (colorimetric assay for living cell number) at 96 hours (hrs). The t-test was used to evaluate statistical significance (p<0.05) with 6 wells per data point. Results At 96 hrs exposure, 210 µg/ml had produced cellular proliferation inhibition rates of 88.11±1.88% (T24), 86.81±1.03% (HTB9) and 77.16±0.78% (TccSUP). Significant results were also produced by brief exposures to lower concentrations: 42-84µg/ml (1hr), 42- 63µg/ml (2hrs), 11-42µg/ml (24hrs), and 11µg/ml (96hrs). In the MBT2 cell line 210µg/ml achieved 88.6±1.2% kill after 1, 2, 24 and 96 hr treatments (average of 4 assays). Cytotoxicity at 21ug/ml (1, 24, 96 hrs), and 42µg/ml (2 hrs) also reached significance. Conclusion N.oleander extract has significant dose and time-dependent cytotoxic effects on transitional cell carcinoma cell lines. This effect seems to be independent of the p53 status or grade of the cell line. The cytotoxic effects of brief exposure to the extract (1-2 hrs) suggest clinical application as an adjuvant intravesical therapy to prevent recurrences of bladder tumors. Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.