Colour development was monitored at 450 nm in a multiwell plate reader (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Shangai). Caspase-3 activity evaluation Caspase-3 activity was determined in leukemia cells using a colorimetric kit from Biovision (Milpitas, CA, USA) in accordance with the manufacturer’s

instructions. The assay is based on the spectrophotometric detection at 405 nm of the chromophore p-nitroaniline (pNA) after cleavage from the labeled substrate DEVD-pNA by caspase-3. Protein concentration in the cytosolic extracts was measured using the Bradford method [24]. DNA fragmentation analysis The genomic DNA fragmentation was evaluated by agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA isolates obtained by the salting-out method [25]. For this purpose, leukemia cells were grown in the presence or absence of CF 5 μl/ml up to 72 h; a positive control (cells treated for 6 h with 25 μM etoposide) was also included. After counting 3-MA solubility dmso and washing, cells were subjected to DNA extraction. The DNA samples were carefully resuspended in TE buffer; the nucleic acid concentration and purity were measured using a NanoDrop® ND-1000 spectrophotometer (Thermo-Scientific,

Wilminton, DE, USA). 2 μg of each sample was loaded onto 1.5% TAE agarose gel; DNA laddering was visualized on a UV transilluminator by ethidium bromide staining. Images were obtained using a Gel Doc 2000 (Bio-Rad Laboratories S.r.l, Segrate, MI, Italy). HIF-1α measurement HIF-1α quantification was performed in leukemia cells using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit from Abcam (Cambridge, UK), in accordance with the manufacturer’s this website instructions. Colour development was evaluated at 450 nm in a multiwell plate reader (Thermo

Fisher Scientific, Farnesyltransferase Shangai). Protein concentration in cell extracts was measured using the Bradford method [24]. Western blot assay of GLUT-1 Leukemia cells were grown in presence or absence of CF 5 μl/ml up to 72 h. After counting and washing, cells were resuspended in 1X SDS loading buffer to 20×106 cells/ml. Cell lysis was achieved by vortex, and the viscosity was reduced by passing through a syringe needle. 15 μl of each samples were run on 0.8% SDS-polyacrylamide gel and the resolved proteins were electrophoretically transferred to supported nitrocellulose membranes (Bio-Rad Laboratories S.r.l, Segrate, MI, Italy) using a Bio-Rad Semidry Transfer system. Non-specific binding to membranes was blocked by incubation in blocking solution (50 mM Tris–HCl, 150 mM NaCl and 5% (w/v) non-fat dried milk, pH 7.5). After blocking solution removal, membranes were incubated in a new blocking solution with a rabbit polyclonal GLUT-1 antibody (PA1-46152, Thermo Scientific) at 4°C overnight. Membranes were then washed three times with TTBS (50 mM Tris–HCl, 150 mM NaCl and 0.05% (v/v) Tween 20, pH 7.