In Vitro Evaluation of the Cytotoxic Effects of Rupatadine on Various Cancer Cell Lines

Year 2026, Volume: 5 Issue: 1, 1 - 7, 05.02.2026

Güldeniz Şekerci , Tuba Keskin , Suat Tekin

https://doi.org/10.71133/anatphar.1800917

Abstract

Inflammation is a cancer-related process that contributes to the development and progression of malignancies. Targeting molecules involved in the inflammatory process may be a promising strategy for cancer prevention and treatment. In this context, antihistamines are emerging as a key component of this strategy. Rupatadine (Rup), which specifically targets histamine-1 and platelet-activating factor receptors, is considered a potential therapeutic candidate in this context. This study was conducted to determine the effect of the antihistamine Rup on various cancer cell lines. In the study, human ovarian (A2780), colon (Caco-2) and prostate cancer (LNCaP) cell lines were used. After incubating the cells for 24 hours with Rup concentrations of 1, 5, 25, 50, and 100 µM, cytotoxicity levels were assessed using the MTT assay method. Cell viability results and Rup's inhibitory concentration 50 (IC₅₀) values were calculated using the GraphPad Prism 8 program. Group comparisons were performed using the Kruskal-Wallis H test, and when statistically significant differences were found between groups, multiple comparisons were performed using the Bonferroni-corrected Mann Whitney U test (p< .05). Rup concentrations significantly reduced cell viability in the A2780, Caco-2 and LNCaP cell lines (p< .05). These results indicate that Rup, which exhibits antihistamine activity, may possess anticancer potential and could be considered a therapeutic candidate for various cancer types due to its ability to significantly reduce cell viability in different cancer cell lines.

Keywords

Antihistamine , Colon cancer , Cytotoxicity , Ovarian cancer , Prostate cancer , Rupatadine

Ethical Statement

This study does not involve any human participants or animal experiments. Therefore, ethical approval was not required in accordance with the guidelines of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). The research was conducted using commercially available cell lines, and no primary human or animal tissues were used.

Supporting Institution

This study is not supported by any institution.

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