Anticancer properties of chitosan against osteosarcoma, breast cancer and cervical cancer cell lines

BACKGROUND: Cancer is still the most common cause of morbidity in the world. Chitosan, a commonly used natural polymer, is consisted of different molecular weight with different biological activities.The purpose of this study was to determine cytotoxicity effect of high molecular weight (HMWC) and low molecular weight of chitosan (LMWC) on three cancerous cell lines MCF-7, HeLa and Saos-2 with different histological origin. METHODS: The anticancer property of two types of chitosan on three cancerous cell lines and human fibroblast as normal cell line, was evaluated by cytotoxic activity including their apoptosis induction properties. Chitosan solutions 2% (w/v) were prepared. The cells were treated by different concentration of chitosan and viability was determined by MTT assay after 24, 48 and 72 h .Also the mode of cell death-apoptosis vs necrosis ,was determined by Annexin V staining assay and analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: While both types of chitosan were effective in inhibiting cell proliferation of three cancerous cell lines, fibroblast cells showed somehow more compatibility with chitosan. Despite of a significant decrease in all 3 cell lines viability, up to 90%, but we didn't see a concentration dependent difference between both types of chitosan (HMWC and LMWC) in their cytotoxic effects. Flow cytometry analysis showed necrosis more observable with MCF7 while the apoptosis pattern of death was more in Saos-2 and HeLa. Also, higher viability with both types of chitosan was seen in fibroblast as normal cells. CONCLUSION: While chitosan is compatible with normal diploid fibroblast cells, it shows anticancerous effect against 3 cancerous cell lines. Furthermore, it seems that the molecular weight of chitosan does not affect its anticancerous property.