Crude extracts of marine-derived and soil fungi of the genus Neosartorya exhibit selective anticancer activity by inducing cell death in colon, breast and skin cancer cell lines

Background: The crude ethyl acetate extracts of marine-derived fungi Neosartorya tsunodae KUFC 9213 (E1) and N. laciniosa KUFC 7896 (E2), and soil fungus N. fischeri KUFC 6344 (E3) were evaluated for their in vitro anticancer activities on a panel of seven human cancer cell lines. Materials and Methods: The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay was performed, after 48 h treatments with different concentrations of extracts, to determine their concentration of the extract or Dox that inhibits cell viability by 50% for each cell line. The effects of the crude extracts on DNA damage, clonogenic potential and their ability to induce cell death were also assessed. Results: E1 was found to the void of anti-proliferative effects. E2 was shown to decrease the clonogenic potential in human colorectal carcinoma cell line (HCT116), human malignant melanoma cell line (A375), human breast adenocarcinoma cell line (MCF7), and human caucasian colon adenocarcinoma Grade II cell line (HT29) cells, whereas E3 showed such effect only in HCT116 and MCF7 cells. Both extracts were found to increase DNA damage in some cell lines. E2 was found to induce cell death in HT29, HCT116, MCF7, and A375 cells while extract E3 increased cell death in MCF7 and HCT116 cell lines. Conclusion: The results reveal that E2 and E3 possess anticancer activities in human colon carcinoma, breast adenocarcinoma, and melanoma cells, validating the interest for an identification of molecular targets involved in the anticancer activity.A Ramos was supported by project MARBIOTECH, grant NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000047-BPD-2013-06. The work was partially funded by project MARBIOTECH (reference NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000047), co-financed by the North Portugal Regional Operational Programme (ON.2 - O Novo Norte), under the National Strategic Reference Framework, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The study was additionally funded by the ERDF, through the Competitiveness and Trade Expansion Program, and by national funds provided by the Foundation for Science and Technology, through the project PEst-C/MARL-1A0015/2013. Finally, we thank the support of the Master of Marine Sciences - Marine Resources of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto