Alpha-Tocopheryl Succinate Selectively Affects the Morphology and Motility of Normal and Tumor Epithelial Cells

Alpha-tocopheryl succinate (α-TS) is a vitamin-E derivative with potential antitumor properties. In this study, we have investigated the effect of α-TS on the morphology and motility of the A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cell line and HaCaT immortalized nontumorigenic human keratinocytes. Phase contrast and fluorescent microscopy, in vitro wound healing assay (scratch test), and scanning electron microscopy have been used. In both cell lines, alteration of cell shape, actin-cytoskeleton reorganization, cell-surface smoothing, disappearance of microvillae, and cell-motility inhibition have been shown. These effects are similar in both cell lines, but in the HaCaT cell line they occur after treatment with higher α-TS doses than for A431cells. Thus, we have demonstrated the selectivity of the effect of α-TS on tumor cells derived from human-skin stratified epithelia. The results of this work may be useful for further investigations focused on development of antitumor agents with selective action toward tumor cells.