Evaluation of the Effect of Hydrocortisone in 2D and 3D HEp-2 Cell Culture

Cancer is one of the diseases with the highest incidence in the world and that associated with the patient's emotional state, can act positively or negatively in the treatment. Cortisol is described as a primary stress hormone in the human body. Studies show a positive correlation of elevated cortisol levels and cancer progression. The corticoids can increase cell proliferation and increased reactive oxygen species that contribute to DNA damage. Prolonged exposure to stress can contribute to tissues becoming insensitive to cortisol, the primary human stress hormone. This study explores the influence of cortisol, an important hormone involved in stress, on tumor cell development, particularly in human cells of carcinoma of human laryngeal (HEp-2). HEp-2 cells were exposed to increasing cortisol (hydrocortisone) concentrations for 24 or 48 h and cytotoxicity (MTT assay [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazio bromide], proliferation assay (crystal violet assay), and immunolabeled 3D culture for fibronectin and FAK were investigated. Corticosteroids and stress in cancer patients may inter-fere with cancer treatments because these may cause tumor cells to progress instead of reduce depending on the cell type. Although some cases favored corticosteroids use in cancer patients, a more detailed analysis is necessary be-fore prescribing them. Moreover, it is important to assess the patient’s cortisol level before and after treatment as well.