In-Vitro Effects of Active Vitamin-D3 and Vitamin-A on Human Melanoma (BLM and1205Lu) Cell Growth

Though UV ray in the Sun light is essential for vitamin-D3 formation, yet UV rays can lead to skin cancer. Lack of vitamin-D3 also can lead to cancer. Hence, we decided to study the effect of vitamin-D3 on human melanoma cell models. Our aims were to study the in-vitro effects of vitamin-D3 and vitamin-A on human melanoma (BLM, 1205Lu) cell growth, as vitamins D3 and A are important for a healthy skin. Initially dose-curve (100 nM to 100 μM concentration) study was carried out with vitamin-D3 and vitamin-A (retinoic acid) on BLM cells to determine the optimal concentrations of vitamins-D3 and A for co-incubation with progesterone (50 μM) and RU-486 (50 μM). Supernatants from the treated cells were subjected to Elisarray. Vitamin-D3 and vitamin-A showed a dose-dependent decrease in cell growth. Based on the dose-curve, it was decided to use 25 μM (at 57% cell growth) of vitamin-D3 and 50 μM (at 55% cell growth) of vitamin-A for co-incubation studies. Co-incubation of vitamin-D3 with vitamin-A showed an additive effect on the decrease of BLM cell growth (20%). Similarly co-incubation of vitamin-D3 with progesterone (33% cell growth) and with RU-486 (28% cell growth) as well as co-incubation of vitamin-A with progesterone (31% cell growth) and RU-486 (18% cell growth) showed an additive effect on the decrease of BLM cell growth. Based on the BLM co-incubation studies, we decided to repeat the studies on 1205Lu cells. So, 25 μM (at 34% cell growth) of vitamin-D3 and 50 μM (at 44% cell growth) of vitamin-A were used for co-incubation studies. Co-incubation of vitamin-D3 with vitamin-A showed an additive effect on the decrease of cell growth (22%). Though co-incubation of vitamin-D3 with progesterone did not show any difference in cell growth (51%), yet co-incubation with RU-486 showed a decrease in 1205Lu cell growth (21%). Similarly co-incubation of vitamin-A with progesterone (25% cell growth) and with RU-486 (23% cell growth) showed a synergistic effect on the decrease of 1205Lu cell growth. Conclusion: These studies suggested that combination of vitamins and steroids might be effective in decreasing melanoma cell growth. Hence, various combination of vitamins and steroids will be tested for their effect on melanoma cell growth in vitro in order to develop a combo drug treatment for melanoma.