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Increased production of ROS, which is both a symptom and a driver of cancer Hallmarks, can push cancer cells over the cliff of oxygen homeostasis. Compounds adding oxidative pressure can thus be utilized for selective tumor therapy. In their paper “Triggering apoptosis in cancer cells with an analogue of cribrostatin 6 that elevates intracellular ROS” , HypOxystation users Asby et al. describe their approach to chemically modifying a natural compound from marine sponges, cribrostatin 6, to enhance its cytotoxic potential. They synthesized a modified molecule 8-phenylcribrostatin 6 (8PC6) that was both more potent and more selective for breast cancer cells.  Co-author Ali Tavassoli from the University of Southampton says, "We study HIF-1, so working in a hypoxic environment is critical. Besides culturing our cells in the H35, we also harvest proteins and collect RNA inside the chamber. The H35 is very easy to use; the touch screen controls are straightforward and intuitive. We have used the workstation to incubate cells in hypoxia for ~5 days, and the atmosphere remains stable over time."

Annexin V/7-AAD staining indicated that 8PC6 induces apoptosis in cancer cells. Treatment of MCF7 cancer cells with ROS-sensing dyes and siRNA to knock down ROS-protective TIGAR demonstrated that 8PC6 increases intracellular reactive oxygen species, upsetting the delicate redox balance in highly susceptible cancer cells and leading to cell death. Hypothesizing that reduction of the cribrostatin analogue yields a semi-quinone that reacts with molecular oxygen to generate superoxide, Asby’s group decided to withdraw oxygen from the equation by incubating the MCF7 cells in the HypOxystation at 1% O2. Pre-incubation and subsequent incubation with increasing doses of 8PC6 in normoxia versus hypoxia showed that, indeed, the IC50 was increased up to 46-fold in hypoxia due to lack of oxygen. The HypOxystation’s closed workstation format and rigorous control of oxygen, CO2, temperature and humidity facilitates authentic cell behavior as in vivo conditions are replicated. Thus, hypoxia in the workstation equated to significant reduction in the intracellular availability of oxygen for the generation of ROS. For research being conducted on highly hypoxic tumors, the workstation atmosphere represents a close approximation of the actual conditions cells encounter. 


Using a colony forming assay approach, Asby’s group was able to demonstrate a 2.7 fold reduction in the long-term proliferative potential of treated MCF7 cells. The research continues with additional cell lines and other cribrostatin analogues, in order to find more ways to drive cancer cells over the cliff of oxygen homeostasis.

Please visit HypOxygen to find out how ROS research is benefitting from the physiological conditions cells experience in the HypOxystation. From November 16-19, 2016, HypOxygen will be exhibiting the HypOxystation at the annual meeting of the SFRBM in San Francisco; please stop by our booth #4!