Cytotoxicity and oncostatic activity of the thiazolidinedione derivative CGP 52608 on central nervous system cancer cells

Oncostatic activity of CGP 52608 at concentrations 1 μM or lower, and cytotoxicity at 5 and 10 μM, are showed in central nervous system cancer cell lines. Inhibition of cell growth is accompanied by arrest of the cell cycle in G0/G1 or G2/M, depending on the cells, and suggests different intracellular pathways used on each cell type. Cytotoxicity is not mediated by oxidative stress, since no intra or extracellular peroxides were found after treatment and antioxidants failed to rescue cells from apoptosis induced by CGP 52608. Its use as anticancer drug susceptible of being concomitantly administered with antioxidants must be considered provided its antitumoral effects do not rely on free radical production.