Polyphenols and epithelial ovarian cancer

Abstract

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths worldwide and due to its aggressive nature and late-stage diagnosis, the discovery of an effective treatment remains a challenge. Polyphenols are compounds found in extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) that have been shown to exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties as well as induce cell death in cancer. This research project investigated the potential antiproliferative effects of the three polyphenols: pinoresinol, hydroxytyrosol and oleacein on the OVCAR-3 ovarian cancer cell line. This research project aimed to measure their cytotoxic potential, calculate their half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) and determine the mechanism of cell death that is induced by these polyphenols. By using the Resazurin viability assay, this study assessed the cell viability of the OVCAR-3 cells after the exposure to various concentrations of the three polyphenols. The IC50 values were found to be 109.98 parts per million (ppm) for pinoresinol, 99.55ppm for oleacein and 41.05 ppm for hydroxytyrosol therefore classifying hydroxytyrosol as the most potent out of the three. Further analysis was done via the Abcam necrosis/apoptosis assay which suggested that these polyphenols might induce cell cycle arrest rather than apoptosis or necrosis. Despite technical difficulties with the flow cytometry aspect of this assay, the results of the resazurin assay demonstrated significant antiproliferative effects especially from hydroxytyrosol. This study analyses the potential of polyphenols as supplementary agents in ovarian cancer therapy. However, further research, including testing with different cell lines and advanced in-vitro models like 3D cell cultures, is essential to fully understand the clinical relevance and synergistic effects of these polyphenols. These findings contribute to the data required to support polyphenol cancer research since they could become efficient therapeutic agents in cancer treatment.