Dehydroepiandrosterone (
DHEA), an adrenal
steroid which is most abundant in human plasma, has a protective role against several types of
cancer; however, its mechanisms of action are unknown. We evaluated the effect of
DHEA on the proliferation and migration of three cell lines derived from
cervical cancer. Cell proliferation was evaluated by
crystal violet staining; migration by attachment, transwell and
wound assays.
DHEA inhibited the proliferation of InBl and SiHa cells, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 30 μM, whereas the proliferation of HeLa cells was inhibited with an IC50 of 70 μM.
DHEA at these IC50 inhibited attachment of cells to the
plastic surface of the culture wells, and migration, was evaluated using transwells after 24 h of exposure.
DHEA also reduced migration of the three cell lines into the
wound area. These results suggest that a possible mechanism of
DHEA in protecting against
cervical cancer is the inhibition of proliferation and migration of
tumor cells.
DHEA could be useful in the prevention or treatment of
cervical cancer.