Figure 4. CuPT induces cytotoxicity in primary cancer cells from patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

(a) Cancer cells from 6 AML patients and peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 6 healthy volunteers were treated with CuPT (0.0625, 0.125, 0.25, 0.5 μM) or bortezomib (Vel, 50 nM) for 24 hours and the cell viability was detected by MTS assay. Mean ± SD (n = 3). *P < 0.05, versus DMSO control. (b and c) Cancer cells from 3 AML patients were isolated and incubated with CuPT (0.25, 0.5, 0.75 μM) or Vel (50 nM) for 12 hours. Cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry and by imaging under a fluorescence microscope. Representative flow images were shown in and the cell death data summarized (b). Mean ± SD (n = 3). *P < 0.05, versus DMSO control. The phase contrast and fluorescent images were taken and merged. Typical images were shown (c). Red indicates PI-positive and green indicates Annexin V-positive. Scale bar = 50 μm.