Combined treatment with vitamin K2 and albumin inhibits growth in hepatocellular carcinoma cells by promoting differentiation and apoptosis.

backgroundVitamin K2 has been reported to inhibit proliferation in several cancer types, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), while albumin serves as a prognostic indicator in HCC and has also been shown to suppress HCC cell growth in vitro. Despite these observations, the effect of combined Vitamin K2 and albumin exposure on HCC cell fate has not been systematically examined. METHODS AND

resultsWe compared the effects of Vitamin K2, albumin, and their combined exposure across multiple HCC cell lines, assessing viability, proliferative capacity, and selected regulatory markers to evaluate growth- and fate-associated responses. Combined exposure consistently produced stronger suppression of proliferation and colony formation than either treatment alone. These effects were accompanied by cell-cycle arrest, reduced AFP expression, and impaired wound-healing capacity. Importantly, combined treatment altered cell death patterns by reducing necrosis and favoring apoptotic progression, whereas senescence-associated responses were limited and cell-line-dependent.

conclusionsThese findings indicate that concurrent Vitamin K2 and albumin exposure modulates proliferation and cell fate decisions in HCC cells and underscore the value of evaluating combinatorial effects through integrated phenotypic outcomes.