Abstract Description

Cervical cancer is a Human Papilloma virus (HPV)-related disease, which is on the rise in several countries including South Africa. These soaring numbers can be attributed to the lack of effective anticancer drugs against cervical cancer; thus, repurposing the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Protease Inhibitors (HIV-PIs) can be a promising strategy. This study was aimed at determining the anticancer effects of atazanavir and lopinavir HIV protease inhibitors on HeLa cervical cancer cells. MTT viability assay was used to evaluate the effects of atazanavir and lopinavir on the viability of HeLa cervical cancer cell line and non-cancerous cells (HEK-293). Further confirmation of the MTT assay was performed by analysing the effects of atazanavir and lopinavir IC50s on HeLa and non-cancerous cells (HEK-293) using the Muse™ Count & Viability assay. To confirm mode of death induced by atazanavir and lopinavir in HPV-associated cervical cancer cells, apoptosis was performed using Annexin V Assay. In addition, Human Apoptosis Array profiler was carried out to identify specific targets of these HIV-PIs in HeLa cells. Atazanavir and lopinavir did not affect the viability of non-cancerous cells (HEK-293) but decreased the viability of the HeLa cervical cancer cells in a time and dose dependent manner. Atazanavir and lopinavir induced apoptosis in HPV related cervical cancer cells by regulating the expression of apoptosis related proteins. The use of HIV drugs as potential cancer therapeutics can be a promising strategy because based on this study, atazanavir and lopinavir have shown anticancer properties notably in HPV related cervical cancer cells.