Summary of synergistic activity of inducer combinations.

Values are the calculated synergistic index of the inducers when used in combination versus when used as single agents [44]. Each value represents the highest synergistic index value obtained for a given donor and time period of simulation over a range of six dose combinations (prostratin) or four dose combinations (HMBA). Combinations of the following dose concentrations were used: prostratin (0.1, 1, 10 µM); HMBA (0.5, 5 mM); TSA (0.1, 1 µM); SAHA (1, 10 µM); VPA (0.1, 1 mM). The index of synergism was calculated with the following formula: the luciferase value from cells after stimulation with the indicated combination of inducers divided by the sum of the luciferase values from cells after stimulation with each inducer separately. Background luciferase values from unstimulated samples were subtracted prior to synergistic index calculation. Combinations of given inducers that gave a synergistic index >1 are considered synergistic and shown in bolded text.