Caffeic Acid's Influence on the Viability and Apoptosis of a Diverse Array of Cancer Cell Lines

Abstract

Natural phytochemicals, such as caffeic acid (CA), are emerging as promising candidates for cancer therapy due to their bioactive properties. This study investigated the cytotoxic potential of CA across ten cancer cell lines—HuH7 (hepatocellular carcinoma), PC3 (prostate adenocarcinoma), HeLa (cervical carcinoma), CaCo2 and HT29 (colorectal adenocarcinoma), SW48 (colon carcinoma), MG63 (osteosarcoma), A673 (Ewing's sarcoma), 2A3 (pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma), and CARM-L12-TG3 (lung carcinoma)—alongside the healthy HMC3 (microglial) cell line. Cell viability was evaluated via MTT assays, while apoptosis induction and cell cycle modulation in CA-treated CaCo2 cells were analyzed using flow cytometry. Results revealed heightened sensitivity to CA in HT29, 2A3, and A673 cells, which exhibited reduced viability at lower concentrations than other cancer and healthy cell lines. CA induced apoptosis and inhibited proliferation in CaCo2 colorectal cells, with pronounced effects observed in cancer types directly exposed to dietary components (e.g., colon and pharynx) and bone-related malignancies (Ewing's sarcoma and osteosarcoma). This study provides novel insights into CA's efficacy against less-studied cancers, such as pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (2A3) and Ewing's sarcoma (A673). These findings underscore CA's potential as a targeted cytotoxic agent, particularly for diet-associated and bone cancers. Further research is warranted to elucidate its mechanisms, optimize therapeutic applications, and validate safety and efficacy in preclinical and clinical settings, positioning CA as a viable candidate for preventive and adjunctive cancer therapies.

Keywords

• Caffeic acid
• cancer cell lines
• cytotoxicity
• apoptosis
• phytochemicals

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