Abstract
BACKGROUND: Oral cancer is a major public health concern worldwide, with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) being one of its most common subtypes. Despite advances in diagnosis and management of this disease, there remains a need to develop new therapeutic approaches for better outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms through which cinnamoyl sulfonamide hydroxamate derivatives exert their anticancer effects on OSCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The derivatives were synthesized via multi-step processes and then characterized at the molecular level. Flow cytometry assay for DNA content and cell cycle distribution, anisidine/toluidine double staining for apoptosis detection, as well as reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) gene expression analysis, were performed on OSCC cell lines exposed to cinnamoyl sulfonamide hydroxamate derivatives. RESULTS: Flow cytometry unveiled remarkable changes in the distribution of cells throughout the OSCC cell line upon treatment with cinnamoyl sulfonamide hydroxamate derivatives. Consequently, it led to a noticeable decrease in cells at the G0/G1 phase, together with an increase at the S phase, thereby indicating a retardation at various points of the cycle. In addition, apoptotic morphological alterations have been observed by anisidine/toluidine double staining after some treatments with the compounds. RT-PCR analysis showed a marked increase in p21 gene expression levels, further supporting the compounds' ability to induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. CONCLUSION: The research highlighted the potential of cinnamoyl sulfonamide hydroxamate derivatives as candidates for oral cancer, particularly OSCC treatment, shedding light on their operation at the molecular level and paving the way for the development of targeted therapies that could aid in the cure of oral cancer.