Abstract:
The metastatic behavior of melanoma has accentuated the need for specific therapy
targets. Compounds, namely L‐kynurenine (L‐kyn), quinolinic acid (Quin), and kynurenic
acid (KA) previously displayed antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects in vitro against
cancer cells. Despite the growing interest in these compounds there are limited studies
examining the in vitro effects on melanoma. In B16 F10 melanoma cells, RAW 264.7
macrophage cells, and HaCat keratinocyte cells, postexposure to the compounds, crystal
violet staining was used to determine the half‐maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50),
whereas polarization‐optical transmitted light differential interference contrast and light
microscopy after hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was used to assess morphological
changes. L‐kyn, Quin, and KA‐induced cytotoxicity in all cell lines, with L‐kyn being the
most cytotoxic compound. L‐kyn and KA at IC50‐induced morphological changes in B16
F10, RAW 264.7, and HaCat cell lines, whereas Quin had effects on B16 F10 and RAW
264.7 cells but did not affect HaCat cells. L‐kyn, Quin, and KA each display different
levels of cytotoxicity, which were cell line specific. L‐kyn was shown to be the most
potent compound against all cell lines and may offer future treatment strategies when
combined with other viable treatments against melanoma.
