Improved chemosensitivity in cervical cancer to cisplatin: Synergistic activity of mahanine through STAT3 inhibition

Toxicity reduction of cisplatin is necessary for improved treatment of cancer. Here we have demonstrated the synergistic growth-inhibitory effect of cisplatin on cervical cancer cells in-combination with a nontoxic herbal carbazole alkaloid, mahanine. Mahanine enhanced cisplatin-induced apoptosis and reduced its effective concentration ∼5–8 folds. Mahanine inhibited JAK1 and Src and subsequently promoted proteasome-mediated degradation of STAT3. This event was further enhanced in-combination with cisplatin and subsequently inhibited cancer cell migration. Collectively, our results revealed that mahanine may be a prospective agent to reduce the concentration of cisplatin in adjunct for the treatment of cancer and thereby decreasing its toxicity.