Concomitant Use of Sea Cucumber Organic Extract and Radiotherapy on Proliferation and Apoptosis of Cervical (HeLa) Cell Line

Background Cervical carcinoma is gynecologic malignancy with conventional treatment modality but drug resistance interferes with current therapeutic methods. Therefore, identification of novel new modality with low toxicity has uniquely favorable strategy. Objectives The aim of this study is evaluation of concomitant use of sea cucumber organic extract and radiotherapy on ovarian cancer. Materials and Methods In this in vitro experimental study, HeLa cancer cells were cultured and suspended in RPMI (Roswell Park Memorial Institute) 1640 medium supplemented with 10 % FBS (Fetal Bovine Serum), 1 % antibiotic. Cells were treated with extract at different concentrations (0 to 100 μg/mL) for 24 hours. After determination of suitable concentration, the cells were exposed to 2 Gray gamma radiation in presence of extract for 192 seconds and 66 hours were kept in incubator till anti-proliferative assay were evaluated. To assess apoptosis, flow cytometry with PI (Propodium Iodide) and acridine orange staining were performed. Results Morphological analysis and results from cytotoxicity assay exhibited that 50 µg/mL of sea cucumber extract alone is considered IC₅₀ and combination of gamma radiation became more valuable in growth inhibition. Also, flow cytometry histogram of treated cells indicated sub-G1 peak demonstrating disturbance in membrane integrity and apoptosis cell death. Fluorescence images have been confirmed apoptosis cell death in treatment groups. Conclusions These data indicate that sea cucumber extract as novel resource of aquatic natural products significantly can inhibit cervical cancer cell growth and synergistic effect of natural extract along with radiation therapy was more effective in anti-cervical cancer therapy.