Quercetin and the growth of leukemic progenitors.

Abstract

The bioflavonoid quercetin (3, 3', 4', 5-7-pentahydroxyflavone) inhibits in a dose-dependent manner the in vitro growth of acute leukemias and enhances the anti-proliferative activity of cytosine arabinoside. Quercetin exerts a blocking action of cell transition from the G0/G1 to the S phase of the cell cycle. Acute myeloid leukemias (AML)-M3,-M4 and -M5, and acute lymphoid leukemias (ALL) were more sensitive to quercetin than AML-M1 and -M2 subtypes. The sensitivity of leukemic progenitors to the growth inhibitory effect of quercetin significantly correlated with their clonogenic efficiency. We postulate that quercetin exerts its growth inhibitory action by interaction with type II estrogen binding sites and subsequent induction of Transforming Growth Factor-beta 1 expression and secretion. Finally quercetin is synergistic with hyperthermia in inducing apoptosis of leukemic cells sparing normal stem cell progenitors. Taken together these results stress the potential role of quercetin in the treatment of acute leukemias and its in vitro use in purging procedures for autologous bone marrow transplantation.

• Authors: L M Larocca, L Teofili, N Maggiano, M Piantelli, F O Ranelletti, G Leone
• Journal: Leukemia & lymphoma (Leuk Lymphoma) Vol. 23 Issue 1-2 Pg. 49-53 (Sep 1996) ISSN: 1042-8194 [Print] United States
• PMID: 9021685 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Receptors, Estrogen
• Transforming Growth Factor beta
• Quercetin

Topics

• Animals
• Antineoplastic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Hematopoiesis (drug effects)
• Humans
• Leukemia (drug therapy, pathology)
• Quercetin (therapeutic use)
• Receptors, Estrogen (metabolism)
• Transforming Growth Factor beta (metabolism)
• Tumor Cells, Cultured
• Tumor Stem Cell Assay