Therapeutic potential of CDK-inhibitors in hepatoblastoma

Introduction: The evaluation of new drugs for the effective treatment of high-risk hepatoblastoma (HB) patients is still of utmost importance. Because deregulation of the cell cycle is a hallmark of cancer, we suggest that cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)-inhibitors might be a therapeutic option. Methods: Growth inhibition was assessed by MTT-assays, apoptosis by Annexin V staining and Western blot, and gene expression by real-time PCR. Results: CDKs are frequently overexpressed in HB primary tumors. The CDK-inhibitors Olomoucine and Roscovitine show a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect on the viability of HB cells. M…