In vitro effect of carbonic anhydrase inhibitor acetazolamide on cell viability,migration and colony formation of colorectal cancer cells

Acidification of extracellular medium in malignant tumors increases the invasive behaviors of cancer cells. In normal healthy tissues, acid production is catalyzed by carbonic anhydrases. Some of the carbonic anhydrase enzymes are overexpressed in certain types of cancer. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of acetazolamide, a potent carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, on in vitro cultivated cancer cells. Three different assays (MTT test, wound healing and clonogenic assay) were performed using human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (SW620) to evaluate the suppressive effect of acetazolamide, on the colorectal cancer cells migration ability, colony formation and cell viability. The dose-dependent (1–1000 μM) reducing effect of acetazolamide on the cell viability was more significant within the first 48 h. This inhibitory effect of acetazolamide was found to be decreased at 72 h, and affects cells migration ability of cells at 24 and 48 h. Acetazolamide was observed to inhibit the cell viability, migration and colony formation ability of cells, depending on dose.