Redox homeostasis in colorectal cancer cells that had been treated with selected phenolic acids and simultaneously exposed to a static magnetic field

PURPOSE: Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the world and the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths. It is associated with oxidative stress. Alongside methods for its early detection, new drugs and therapeutic strategies are also being developed. Static magnetic fields have great potential to be used as a physical tool for inhibiting cancer alone or in combination with chemical factors, including drugs or polyphenols. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of caffeic or chlorogenic acid in combination with a moderate-strength static magnetic field on the redox homeostasis of colorectal cancer cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The experiments were performed on DLD-1 and RKO cell lines that had been treated with CFA or CGA (1.5 mmol/L) and also with their simultaneous exposure to an SMF (0.7 T). The cytotoxicity of the phenolic acids was tested using MTT and LDH assays. The expression of antioxidant enzymes was detected by an RT-qPCR reaction, and the activity of antioxidant enzymes, the total antioxidant status, and the concentration of malondialdehyde were measured colorimetrically. A flow cytometer was used to determine the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. RESULTS: The phenolic acids and an SMF caused a significant difference in the expression and activity of the antioxidant enzymes in both cell lines. The malondialdehyde (MDA) level was higher in the treated cells than in the control cells. The effect of both factors on the intracellular ROS concentration was higher in the DLD-1 cells than in the RKO cells. CONCLUSIONS: This might indicate a disturbance of the antioxidant system of cancer cells under the influence of phenolic acids and an SMF, which shows the therapeutic potential of the tested factors.