ROS inhibitor NAC compromises cytotoxicity of ADM/DAC treatment in HCC-LM₃ and SMMC-7721 cell lines but does not impact glucose metabolism which is depressed by DAC.

<p>(A) Simultaneous treatment with 10 mmol/L NAC restored ROS to basal levels in HCC-LM₃ cells; (B) Simultaneous treatment with 10 mmol/L NAC significantly inhibited the enhanced cytotoxicity observed with DCA/ADM combination in HCC-LM₃ cells; (C) Simultaneous treatment with 10 mmol/L NAC restored ROS to basal levels in SMMC-7721 cells; (D) Simultaneous treatment with 10 mmol/L NAC significantly inhibited the enhanced cytotoxicity observed with DCA/ADM combination in SMMC-7721 cells. *, $, and # indicate statistical significance versus control cells, corresponding treatment without NAC, and DCA+ADM versus ADM alone, respectively (p<0.05). (E) Treatment with 20 mmol/L DCA significantly decreased glucose consumption in HCC-LM₃ cells with or without 10 mmol/L NAC; (F) Treatment with 20 mmol/L DCA significantly decreased lactate production in HCC-LM₃ cells with or without 10 mmol/L NAC. * indicates statistical significance versus control cells (p<0.05). Each experiment was performed in triplicate, and all tests were repeated at least 3 times to provide this data.