RESUMEN
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. Patients with CRC may need chemotherapy (CTx) in a neoadjuvant, adjuvant or palliative setting through the course of the disease. Unfortunately, its effect is limited by chemoresistance and chemotoxicity. Novel more effective and nontoxic CTx regimens are needed to further improve CRC treatment outcomes. Thus, the present study was designed to test the hypothesis that nontoxic sulforaphane (SF) is effective against CRC and has additive effects in combination with conventional 5fluorouracil, oxaliplatin and folinic acid (FOLFOX) CTx in vitro. Highly metastatic human colon cancer cells, CX1, and fibroblasts were treated with FOLFOX ± SF. Cell viability was assessed using an MTT assay. The level of apoptosis and the expression of apoptotic proteins were measured by TUNEL assay and quantitative PCR analysis. Aldehyde dehydrogenase isoform 1 (ALDH1) and multidrug resistance protein 2 (MRP2) levels were evaluated. The ability of cells to form spheroids was measured in threedimensional cell culture. SF alone and in combination with FOLFOX effectively decreased the viability of the CX1 cells, promoted apoptosis within the CX1 cells, prevented cellular spheroid formation and decreased ALDH1 activity. However, SF promoted MRP2 expression and protein levels. In conclusion, SF together with conventional FOLFOX has additive anticancer effects against highly metastatic human CRC in vitro.