In vivo assessment of imoxide and diluted vitamin C’s inhibitory effects on cervical cancer in mice
نویسندگان
1 Department of Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
2 Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Science, Mashhad, Iran
3 Department of Community Medicine, MMS.C., Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
4 Medical Chemistry Department, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
5 Department of Research and Development of Biological Products, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Mashhad, Iran
6 Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Science, Mashhad, Iran
7 Department of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
8 Department of Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
9 Surgical Oncology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
10 Department of Virology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
11 Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, Basic Sciences Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
doi
10.22038/ijbms.2026.93220.20105چکیده
Objective(s): Cervical cancer, the fourth most common malignancy among women, is strongly associated with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Emerging evidence suggests that hydrogen peroxide, alongside standard therapies, may enhance treatment. This study investigated the effects of Imoxide (0.5% hydrogen peroxide compound) and diluted vitamin C on tumor growth in the TC-1 papillomavirus mouse model. Materials and Methods: Cytotoxicity of 3% hydrogen peroxide and 100 mg/ml vitamin C was assessed using the MTT assay on TC-1 cells. Six-week-old female C57BL/6 mice were used to establish TC-1 tumor models in groups by grafting. Mice were divided into seven groups: intratumoral (IT) control, intraperitoneal (IP) control, IP Imoxide, IT Imoxide, cisplatin, IP vitamin C, and IT vitamin C. Tumor size was measured every other day. Histopathological analysis and real-time PCR were conducted to evaluate gene expression (P53, P21, BAX, BCL-2). Results: Dilutions of 10⁻³ and 10⁻⁴ of hydrogen peroxide resulted in cell survival rates of 53.7% and 58.8%, respectively. Imoxide markedly inhibited tumor growth in vivo, in some groups exceeding cisplatin. Histological findings showed limited apoptotic features. Gene-expression analysis revealed no statistically significant differences after multiple-testing correction.Conclusion: Imoxide substantially suppressed tumor growth in the murine model; however, modulation of apoptosis-related genes was minimal, suggesting that non-apoptotic pathways may contribute to its antitumor effects.
