Investigation of ceramidase inhibition-induced cytotoxicity in human hepatocyte carcinoma cells

Cancer is a disease that occurs as a result of unlimited division and proliferation of cells in the body. People have different DNA structures that lead to different approaches and treatments. Today, treatments such as immunotherapy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, surgery, hormone therapy, gene therapy and targeted therapies are used in the treatmentof various cancers. About 10 million people die from various cancers in the world every year, and about 20 million people are diagnosed with various cancers. The most common of these cancers are breast, lung, stomach, liver, skin and prostate cancers. Liver cancer is the sixth most common and third deadliest cancer worldwide. The global cancer rates for new cases and deaths from liver cancer in 2020 are approximately 906,000 and 880,000, respectively. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the primary liver tumor that occurs in patients with liver disease and cirrhosis. There is not enough treatment to cure liver cancer and new treatments are needed. Sphingolipids play an important role in the growth and death of cancer cells. Apoptosis is regulated by sphingolipid enzymes and inhibition of ceramidase helps treat cancer. In this study, cytotoxic, antiproliferative and cell death caused by LCL521, a ceramidase inhibitor, in liver cancer cells were investigated. The cytotoxic effects on HepG2 cells were determined by MTT assay and the type of death in cells was determined by flow cytometry. Then, the morphological changes of the cells were examined by confocal microscopy and the fine structural changes were examined by transmission electron microscopy.