Abstract
Purpose:
Uveal melanoma is the most common intraocular tumor. To date, effective pharmacological therapies are lacking. In a set of proof-of-concept experiments, we evaluated the effect of Vemurafenib, a selective BRAF-inhibitor, on A375 melanoma cell line cells.
Methods:
The human melanoma cell line A375 was incubated with Vemurafenib for 24 hours in different concentrations in the presence of Dulbecco’s MEM medium under standard cell-culture conditions. A Live-dead assay as well as a MTT toxicity assay on confluent cells were performed to exclude toxic concentrations. To determine cell proliferation, 30k cells per well were placed in a 12-well-plate and incubated with Vemurafenib for 24 hours before the tetrazolium dye-reduction assay (MTT test) was performed. After cells were seeded on coated 12-well plates, incubated with Vemurafenib, and rinsed with phosphate-buffered saline, cell proliferation was assessed by the MTT test.
Results:
Vemurafenib was an effective inhibitor of human melanoma cell proliferation at nontoxic concentrations in vitro. The 50% inhibitory concentration was close to 500 nM. A Vemurafenib concentration of 5.0 µM accounted for an inhibition of cell proliferation of more than 60%. This effect was dose dependent. No toxic effect was detected compared with controls.
Conclusions:
Vemurafenib might have a potential for the treatment of melanoma cells. However, further studies are required to determine if these findings also apply to uveal melanoma cells.
Keywords: 745 uvea •
744 tumors •
589 melanoma