View Full-text Download PDF (1941kb)

Background: Advanced malignant melanoma continues to be a highly invasive type of cancer with an unfavorable prognosis and limited therapeutic outcomes. Methods: The current study investigated the cytotoxic potential and morphological effects of genistein (GEN) and dexamethasone (DEX), administered individually and in combination, on murine melanoma cells B164A5, using normal epidermal cells JB6 Cl 41-5a as controls. Results: Treatment with GEN induced a dose-dependent decrease in the viability of melanoma cells, reaching 60.52% at 50 µM, in accordance with its known capacity to both inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis by modulating NF-κB and Akt signaling pathways. DEX demonstrated moderate cytotoxic activity (71.34% viability at 50 µM), mirroring its recognized adjuvant role in cancer therapy. Combined treatment with both GEN (25 µM) and DEX (50 µM) resulted in the highest cytotoxicity (48.97% viability), suggesting a synergistic effect likely mediated by augmented apoptotic signaling and oxidative stress. The MTT assay and morphological analyses confirmed apoptotic characteristics, including cell contraction and detachment, while normal cells remained over 90% viable. Conclusions: These results show that GEN, especially when combined with DEX, has selective cytotoxicity against melanoma cells and may serve as a potentially promising adjuvant candidate for future pharmacological strategies targeting malignant melanoma.

Keywords: genistein; dexamethasone; combinatorial treatment; cytotoxicity; apoptosis; melanoma