Cervical carcinoma is one type of cancer with a high mortality rate in women. In this research, we investigated the cytotoxic, antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing effects of hydroxyurea on a human cervical carcinoma cell line, HeLa. We found that hydroxyurea has cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects on HeLa cells in a dose-dependent manner. We also found that hydroxyurea can increase cellular levels of p53 and p21, and induce DNA fragmentation in a dose-dependent manner. We concluded that the observed antiproliferative, cytotoxic and apoptosis inducing activities of hydroxyurea might be mediated by the induction of p53 and its transcriptional target, p21.

Cervical carcinoma is one type of cancer with a high mortality rate in women. In this research, we investigated the cytotoxic, antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing effects of hydroxyurea on a human cervical carcinoma cell line, HeLa. We found that hydroxyurea has cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects on HeLa cells in a dose-dependent manner. We also found that hydroxyurea can increase cellular levels of p53 and p21, and induce DNA fragmentation in a dose-dependent manner. We concluded that the observed antiproliferative, cytotoxic and apoptosis inducing activities of hydroxyurea might be mediated by the induction of p53 and its transcriptional target, p21.