Iron chelator induces apoptosis in osteosarcoma cells by disrupting intracellular iron homeostasis and activating the MAPK pathway

Osteosarcoma is a common malignant bone tumor in clinical orthopedics. Iron chelators have inhibitory effects on many cancers, but their effects and mechanisms in osteosarcoma are still uncertain. Our in vitro results show that deferoxamine (DFO) and deferasirox (DFX), two iron chelators, significantly inhibited the proliferation of osteosarcoma cells (MG-63, MNNG/HOS and K7M2). The viability of osteosarcoma cells was decreased by DFO and DFX in a concentration-dependent manner. DFO and DFX generated reactive oxygen species (ROS), altered iron metabolism and triggered apoptosis in osteosarcoma cells. Iron chelator-induced apoptosis was due to the activation of the MAPK signaling pathway, with increased phosphorylation levels of JNK, p38 and ERK, and ROS generation; in this process, the expression of C-caspase-3 and C-PARP increased. In an orthotopic osteosarcoma transplantation model, iron chelators (20 mg/kg every day, Ip, for 14 days) significantly inhibited the growth of the tumor. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that iron metabolism was altered, apoptosis was promoted, and malignant proliferation was reduced with iron chelators in the tumor tissues. In conclusion, we observed that iron chelators induced apoptosis in osteosarcoma by activating the ROS-related MAPK signaling pathway. Because iron is crucial for cell proliferation, iron chelators may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for osteosarcoma.