Casiopeinas IIgly and IIIia induce apoptosis in medulloblastoma cells.

The medulloblastoma is a tumor of the central nervous system that is expressed in childhood. Casiopeinas are a family of molecules with an active copper 2(+) core and an amino acid sequence that seem give them tumoral specificity. The mechanism of action is poorly understood; however, it has been reported that some metals such as copper and some of their complexes are toxic due to their high potential to participate in redox reactions which could cause apoptosis in medulloblastoma cells. Cell survival was measured by the MTT method and apoptosis was identified by the presence of condensed nuclei, disruption of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential, and cytoskeleton disorder. In all cases medulloblastoma cells treated with Casiopeinas showed more apoptotic features than untreated cells. Casiopeinas IIgly and IIIia promise to be important compounds for the treatment of medulloblastoma, mainly by their ability to induce apoptosis.