Does Dexamethasone Inhibit the Antineoplastic Effect of Cisplatin and Docetaxel in Head and Neck Cancer Cells?

Background/Aim: Comedication with glucocorticoids such as dexamethasone is frequently given to head and neck cancer patients treated with chemotherapy. However, an increasing body of evidence suggests that dexamethasone may induce resistance to antineoplastic agents. The present study was the first to investigate the effect of dexamethasone on the antiproliferative activity of cisplatin and docetaxel in vitro in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) cell lines. Materials and Methods: The cytotoxic effect of cisplatin and docetaxel on eight SCCHN cell lines was determined for each drug alone or with increasing concentrations of dexamethasone. Cell growth inhibition and viability were measured quantitatively after 24, 48, 72 hours of treatment using water-soluble-tetrazolium-test and lactate dehydrogenase assays. Absolute tumor cell numbers were determined by cell counting in a Rosenthal chamber. Results: Cisplatin and docetaxel alone inhibited the growth of all eight SCCHN cell lines significantly (p=0.012). The antiproliferative activity of both agents was not decreased by the addition of dexamethasone in any of the cell lines (p>0.05). Conclusion: Dexamethasone does not interfere with the cytotoxic action of cisplatin or docetaxel in the investigated SCCHN cell lines.