Background: Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is a commonly used diet supplement believed to decrease the inflammation in joints and fastens recovery in osteoarthritis, gastric mucosal injury, or obesity-related disorders. It was also suggested that MSM might play a beneficial role in cancer treatment.
Purpose: So far, the MSM might have a potentially beneficial effect in endometrial cancer (EC) treatment.
Study design: This study evaluated the effect and usefulness of MSM in combinatory therapy with known drug doxorubicin (DOX).
Methods: The effect of combinational treatment of MSM and DOX on the induction of apoptosis was evaluated in EC cell lines (ISHIKAWA, MFE-296, MFE-280).
Results: We observed that MSM itself induces apoptosis in EC cell lines, and pre-treatment with MSM for 24 h increases the sensitivity of EC cells to DOX-induced apoptosis and DNA damage and that effect might be regulated by p42/44 (Erk1/2) MAPK and Akt (protein kinase B).
Conclusion: These results for the first time show that MSM might act as a sensitizer of EC cells to known drugs, for which EC cells quickly acquire resistance. Graphical abstract.
Keywords: Apoptosis; Doxorubicin; Endometrial cancer; Methylsulfonylmethane.