In this study, researchers investigated the potential of punicalagin as a supplementary treatment for osteosarcomas, the most prevalent primary malignant bone tumors affecting children, adolescents, and young adults. Despite current therapies like surgery and polychemotherapy, the prognosis for patients with metastatic disease remains grim. Previous studies indicated punicalagin’s efficacy in reducing cell viability, angiogenesis, and invasion in cell cultures. The study utilized a 3D in vivo tumor model with human osteosarcoma biopsies and SaOs-2 and MG-63 cells grown on the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). Daily treatment with punicalagin over four days resulted in decreased tumor weight, proliferation, and angiogenesis, along with pro-apoptotic characteristics in the tumor tissue. These findings suggest that punicalagin could be a promising additional therapy for osteosarcoma patients, emphasizing the utility of the 3D in vivo tumor model for anti-cancer therapy testing.
View the full article in the journal and see how IKOSA supported the research