Apoptosis of human gastric adenocarcinoma cells induced by β-ionone

AIM:To investigate the effect of β-ionone on the growthand apoptosis of gastric adenocarcinoma cell line SGC-7901.METHODS:Using MTT,fluorescence dye(Hoechst-33258),transmission electron microscopy and the TUNEL assay,weexamined growth and apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells treatedwith β-ionone at various concentrations(i.e.25,50,100and 200μmol/L)for 24h,48h.RESULTS:The growth of SGC-7901 cells was inhibited byβ-ionone.Seven days after treatment with β-ionone at fourconcentrations,the inhibition rates were 12.04%,30.59%,78.25% and 94.15%,respectively.The IC_(50) value of β-iononefor SGC-7901 cells was estimated to be 89μmol/L.Theapoptotic morphology was demonstrated in SGC-7901 cellstreated with β-ionone by Hoechst-33258 staining andelectron microscopy.Apoptosis was also shown in β-ionone-treated SGC-7901 cells by the TUNEL assay.CONCLUSION:β-ionone can inhibit cell proliferation andinduce apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells.However,the mechanismneeds to be further investigated.     

Inhibitory effect of human telomerase antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotides on the growth of gastric cancer cell lines in variant tumor pathological subtype

AIM: To investigate the inhibitory effect of specialized human telomerase antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotides on the growth of well (MKN-28), moderately (SGC-7901) and poorly (MKN-45) differentiated gastric cancer cell lines under specific conditions and its inhibition mechanism, and to observe the correlation between the growth inhibition ratio and the tumor pathologic subtype of gastric cancer cells. METHODS: Telomerase activity in three gastric cancer cell lines of variant tumor pathologic subtype was determined by modified TRAP assay before and after the specialized human telomerase antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotides were dealt with under specific conditions. Effect of antisense oligomer under specific conditions of the growth and viability of gastric cancer cell lines was explored by using trypan blue dye exclusion assay, and cell apoptosis was detected by cell morphology observation, flow cytometry and TUNEL assay. RESULTS: Telomerase activity was detected in well, moderately and poorly differentiated gastric cancer cell lines (the quantification expression of telomerase activity was 43.7TPG, 56.5TPG, 76.7TPG, respectively). Telomerase activity was controlled to 30.2TPG, 36.3TPG and 35.2TPG for MKN-28, SGC-7901 and MKN-45 cell lines respectively after treatment with human telomerase antisense oligomers at the concentration of 5 μmol/L, and was entirely inhibited at 10 μmol/L, against the template region of telomerase RNA component, whereas no inhibition effect was detected in missense oligomers (P<0.05). After treatment with antisense oligomers at different concentrations under specific conditions for 96 h, significant growth inhibition effects were found in MKN-45 and SGC-7901 gastric cancer cell lines (the inhibition ratio was 40.89% and 71.28%), but not in MKN-28 cell lines (15.86%). The ratio of inactive SGC-7901 cells increased according to the prolongation of treatment from 48 to 96 h. Missense oligomers could not lead to the same effect (P<0.05). Apoptosis of SGC-7901 and MKN-45 cells was detected not only by morphology and TUNEL assay but also by flow cytometry. The apoptotic rate reached 33.56% for SGC-7901 cells and 44.75% for MKN-45 cells. CONCLUSION: The viability and proliferation of gastric cancer cells can be inhibited by antisense telomerase oligomers. The growth inhibition of gastric cancer cells is correlated with concentration, time and sequence specialty of antisense oligomers. The inhibition mechanism of antisense human telomerase oligomers depends not only on the sequence specialty but also on the biological characteristics of gastric cancer cell lines.     

Gastric cancer cell lines induced by trichostatin A

AIM： To explore the effect of trichostatin A （TSA） on apoptosis and acetylated histone H3 levels in gastric cancer cell lines BGC-823 and SGC-7901. METHODS： The effect of TSA on growth inhibition and apoptosis was examined by MTT, fluorescence microscopy and PI single-labeled flow cytometry. The acetylated histone H3 level was detected by Western blot. RESULTS： TSA induced apoptosis in gastric cancer cell lines BGC-823 and SGC-7901 was in a dose and time-dependent manner. Apoptotic cells varied significantly between TSA treated groups （37.5 ng/mL 72 h for BGC-823 cell line and 75 ng/mL 72 h for SGC-7901 cell line） and control group （0.85 ± 0.14 vs 1.14 ± 0.07, P = 0.02; 0.94 ± 0.07 vs 1.15 ± 0.06, P = 0.02）. Morphologic changes of apoptosis, including nuclear chromatin condensation and fluorescence strength, were observed under fluorescence microscopy. TSA treatment in BGC-823 and SGC-7901 cell lines obviously induced cell apoptosis, which was demonstrated by the increased percentage of sub-G1 phase cells, the reduction of Gl-phase cells and the increase of apoptosis rates in flow cytometric analysis. The result of Western blot showed that the expression of acetylated histone H3 increased in BGC-823 and SGC-7901 TSA treatment groups as compared with the control group.CONCLUSION： TSA can induce cell apoptosis in BGC-823 and SGC-7901 cell lines. The expression of acetylated histone H3 might be correlated with apoptosis.     

Effect of arsenic trioxide on vascular endothelial cell proliferation and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors Flt-1 and KDR in gastric cancer in nude mice

AIM: To investigate the effect of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) on expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGFR-1, Flt-1) and VEGFR-2 (KDR) in human gastric tumor cells and proliferation of vascular endothelial cells. METHODS: The solid tumor model was formed in nude mice with the gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901. The animals were treated with As2O3. Microvessel density (MVD) and expression of Flt-1 and KDR were detected by immunofluorescence laser confocal microscopy. SGC-7901 cells were treated respectively by exogenous recombinant human VEGF165 or VEGF165 As2O3. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Cell viability of ECV304 cells was measured by MTT assay, and cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed using ? ow cytometry. RESULTS: The tumor growth inhibition was 30.33% and 50.85%, respectively, in mice treated with As2O3 2.5 and 5 mg/kg. MVD was signifi cantly lower in arsenic-treated mice than in the control group. The ? uorescence intensity levels of Flt-1 and KDR were significantly less in the arsenic-treated mice than in the control group. VEGF165 may accelerate growth of SGC7901 cells, but As2O3 may disturb the stimulating effect of VEGF165. ECV304 cell growth was suppressed by 76.51%, 71.09% and 61.49% after 48 h treatment with As2O3 at 0.5, 2.5 and 5 μmol/L, respectively. Early apoptosis in the As2O3- treated mice was 2.88-5.1 times higher than that in the controls, and late apoptosis was 1.17-1.67 times higherthan that in the controls. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that As2O3 delays tumor growth, inhibits MVD, down-regulates Flt-1 and KDR expression, and disturbs the stimulating effect of VEGF165 on the growth of SGC7901 cells. These results suggest that As2O3 might delay growth of gastric tumors through inhibiting the paracrine and autocrine pathways of VEGF/VEGFRs.     

Effect of p27(KIP1) on cell cycle and apoptosis in gastric cancer cells

AIM: To elucidate the effect of p27KIP1 on cell cycle and apoptosis regulation in gastric carcinoma cells. METHODS: The whole length of p27KIP1 cDNA was transfected into human gastric cancer cell line SCG7901 by lipofectamine. Expression of p27KIP1 protein or mRNA was analyzed by Western blot and RNA dot blotting, respectively. Effect of p27KIP1 on cell growth was observed by MTT assay and anchorage-independent growth in soft agar. Tumorigenicity in nude mice was used to assess the in vivo biological effect of p27KIP1. Flow cytometry, TUNEL, and electron microscopy were used to assess the effect of p27KIP1 on cell cycle and apoptosis. RESULTS: Expression of p27KIP1 protein or mRNA increased evidently in SCG7901 cells transfected with p27KIP1. The cell growth was reduced by 31% at 48 h after induction with zinc determined by cell viability assay. The alteration of cell malignant phenotype was evidently indicated by the loss of anchorage-independent growth ability in soft agar. The tumorigenicity in nude mice was reduced evidently (0.55±0.14 cm vs 1.36±0.13 cm, P<0.01). p27KIP1 overexpression caused cell arrest with 36% increase (from 33.7% to 69.3%, P<0.01) in G1 population. Prolonged p27KIP1 expression induced apoptotic cell death reflected by pre-G1 peak in the histogram of FACS, which was also confirmed by TUNEL assay and electron microscopy. CONCLUSION: p27KIP1 can prolong cell cycle in G1 phase and lead to apoptosis. p27KIP1 may be a good candidate for cancer gene therapy.     

Inhibitory effects of apigenin on the growth of gastric carcinoma SGC-7901 cells

AIM: To explore the growth inhibition and apoptosis-inducing effect of apigenin on human gastric carcinoma SGC-7901 cells. METHODS: The effects of apigenin on the growth, clone formation and proliferation of human gastric carcinoma SGC-7901 cells were observed by MTT, clone-forming assay, and morphological observation. Fluorescent staining and flow cytometry analysis were used to detect apoptosis of cells. RESULTS: Apigenin obviously inhibited the growth, clone formation and proliferation of SGC-7901 cells in a dosedependent manner. Inhibition of growth was observed on d 1 at the concentration of 80 μmol/L, while after 4 d, the inhibition rate (IR) was 90%. The growth IRs at the concentration of 20, 40, and 80 μmol/L were 38%, 71%, and 99% respectively on the 7~(th) d. After the cells were treated with apigenin for 48 h, the number of clone-forming in control, 20, 40, and 80 μmol/L groups was 217±16.9, 170±11.1 (P<0.05), 98±11.1(P<0.05), and 25±3.5 (P<0.05) respectively. Typical morphological changes of apoptosis was found by fluorescent staining. The cell nuclei had lost its smooth boundaries, chromatin was condensed, and cell nuclei were broken. Flow cytometry detected typical apoptosis peak. After the cells were treated with apigenin for 48 h, the apoptosis rates were 5.76%, 19.17%, and 29.30% respectively in 20, 40, and 80 μmol/L groups. CONCLUSION: Apigenin shows obvious inhibition on the growth and clone formation of SGC-7901 cells by inducing apoptosis.     

Effects of transforming growth interacting factor on biological behaviors of gastric carcinoma cells

AIM: Transforming growth interacting factor (TGIF) is an inhibitor of both transforming growth factor β(TGF-β) and retinoid signaling pathways. Moreover, the activation of MAPK pathway can prolong its half-life. However, its role in carcinogenesis is still unknown. Thus we attempted to investigate the effect of TGIF on biologic behaviors of gastric carcinoma cells. METHODS: Gastric carcinoma cell line, SGC-7901, was stably transfected with plasmid PcDNA3.1-TGIF. Western blotting and cell immunohistochemistry screening for the highly expressing clone of TGIF were employed. The growth of transfected cells was investigated by MTT and colony-formation assays, and apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry (FCM) and transmission electron microscopy. Tumorigenicity of the transfectant cells was also analyzed. RESULTS: TGIF had no effect on the proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells, but cellular organelles of cells transfected with TGIF were richer than those of vector control or parental cells. Its clones were smaller than the control ones in plate efficiency, and its tumor tissues also had no obvious necrosis compared with the vector control or parental cells. Moreover, TGIF could resist TGF-β mediated growth inhibition. CONCLUSION: TGIF may induce differentiation of stomach neoplastic cells. In addition, TGIF can counteract the growth inhibition induced by TGF-β.     

Apoptosis of human gastric adenocarcinoma cells induced by β-ionone

AIM: To investigate the effect of β-ionone on the growthMETHODS: Using MTT, fluorescence dye (Hoechst-33258),transmission electron microscopy and the TUNEL assay, we examined growth and apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells treated with β-ionone at various concentrations (i.e. 25, 50, 100 and 200 μmol/L) for 24 h, 48 h.RESULTS: The growth of SGC-7901 cells was inhibited by β-ionone, Seven days after treatment with β-ionone at four concentrations, the inhibition rates were 12.04%, 30.59%,78.25% and 94.15%, respectively. The IC50 value of β-ionone for SGC-7901 cells was estimated to be 89 μmol/L. The apoptotic morphology was demonstrated in SGC-7901 cells treated with β-ionone by Hoechst-33258 staining and electron microscopy. Apoptosis was also shown in β-iononetreated SGC-7901 cells by the TUNEL assay.CONCLUSION: β-ionone can inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells. However, the mechanism needs to be further investigated.     

Tributyrin inhibits human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cell growth by inducing apoptosis and DNA synthesis arrest

AIM: To evaluate the effects of tributyrin, a pro-drug of natural butyrate and a neutral short-chain fatty acid triglyceride, on the growth inhibition of human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cell. METHODS: Human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells were exposed to tributyrin at 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10 and 50 mmol/L(-1) for 24-72 h. MTT assay was applied to detect the cell proliferation. [(3)H]-TdR uptake was measured to determine DNA synthesis. Apoptotic morphology was observed by electron microscopy and Hoechst-33258 staining. Flow cytometry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay were performed to detect tributyrin-triggered apoptosis. The expressions of PARP, Bcl-2 and Bax were examined by Western blot assay. RESULTS: Tributyrin could initiate growth inhibition of SGC-7901 cell in a dose- and time-dependent manner. [(3)H]-TdR uptake by SGC-7901 cells was reduced to 33.6 % after 48 h treatment with 2 mmol/L(-1) tributyrin, compared with the control (P<0.05). Apoptotic morphology was detected by TUNEL assay. Flow cytometry revealed that tributyrin could induce apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells in dose-dependent manner. After 48 hours incubation with tributyrin at 2 mmol/L(-1), the level of Bcl-2 protein was lowered, and the level of Bax protein was increased in SGC-7901, accompanied by PARP cleavage. CONCLUSION: Tributyrin could inhibit the growth of gastric cancer cells effectively in vitro by inhibiting DNA synthesis and inducing apoptosis, which was associated with the down-regulated Bcl-2 expression and the up-regulated Bax expression. Therefore, tributyrin might be a promising chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agent against human gastric carcinogenesis.     

Tributyrin inhibits human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cell growth by inducing apoptosis and DNA synthesis arrest

AIM: To evaluate the effects of tributyrin, a pro-drug of natural butyrate and a neutral short-chain fatty acid triglyceride, on the growth inhibition of human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cell.METHODS: Human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells were 24-72 h. MTT assay was applied to detect the cell proliferation.[3H]-TdR uptake was measured to determine DNA synthesis.Apoptotic morphology was observed by electron microscopy and Hoechst-33258 staining. Flow cytometry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay were performed to detect tributyrin-triggered apoptosis. The expressions of PARP, Bcl-2 and Bax were examined by Western blot assay.RESULTS: Tributyrin could initiate growth inhibition of SGC7901 cell in a dose- and time-dependent manner. [3H]-TdR uptake by SGC-7901 cells was reduced to 33.6% after 48 h control (P＜0.05). Apoptotic morphology was detected by TUNEL assay. Flow cytometry revealed that tributyrin could induce apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells in dose-dependent manner. After 48 hours incubation with tributyrin at 2 mmol.L-1, the level of Bcl-2 protein was lowered, and the level of Bax protein was increased in SGC-7901, accompanied by PARP cleavage.CONCLUSION: Tributyrin could inhibit the growth of gastric cancer cells effectively in vitro by inhibiting DNA synthesis and inducing apoptosis, which was associated with the downregulated Bcl-2 expression and the up-regulated Bax expression. Therefore, tributyrin might be a promising chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agent against human gastric carcinogenesis.     

Induction of apoptosis of human gastric carcinoma SGC-7901 cell line by 5, 7-dihydroxy-8-nitrochrysin in vitro

AIM： To investigate the effect of 5, 7-dihydroxy-8- nitrochrysin （NOChR） on apoptosis of human gastric carcinoma SGC-7901 cell line.
METHODS： SGC-7901 cells were cultured in vitro and the inhibitory effect of NOChR on proliferation of SGC-7901 cells was measured by using an Ml-r assay. NOChR-induced apoptosis rate of SGC-7901 cells was detected using flow cytometry （FCM） with PI staining. DNA ladder bands were observed by DNA agarose gel electrophoresis. The influence of NOChR on the proxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ （PPARγ）, Bcl-2 and Bax protein expression of SGC-7901 cells was analyzed by Western blot.
RESULTS： MIF assay showed that NOChR markedly inhibited proliferation of SGC-7901 cells in a dose- dependent manner, and when ICso was 4.14 μmol/L, the potency of NOChR was 10 times than that of lead compound, chrysin （ChR, IC50 was 40.56 μmol/L）, and was similar to 5-fluorouracil （5-FU, IC50 was 4.51 μmol/L）. FCM with propidium iodide （PI） staining demonstrated that the apoptosis rates of SGC-7901 cells treated with 1.25, 5.00 and 20.00 μmol/L NOChR for 48 h were 9.8% 4- 0.2%, 36.8% 4- 1.9% and 45.5% 4- 3.5%, respectively, and were significantly higher when treated with 5.00 and 20.00 μmol/L NOChR than that with 20.00 μmol/L ChR （12.9% 4- 1.5%）. DNA agarose gel electrophoresis showed that treatment of SGC-7901 cells with 20.00 μmol/L NOChR for 48 h resulted in typical DNA ladder bands of DNA of SGC-7901 cells, which could be eliminated by treating with 10.00 μmol/L GW9662, a blocker of PPARy. Western blot analysis revealed that after 24 h of treatment with 20.00 μmol/L NOChR, PPARgamma and Bax protein expression of SGC-7901 cells increased but Bcl-2 expression decreased; however, pre-incubation with 10.00 μmol/L GW9662 could efficiently antagonize and weaken the regulatory effect of 20.00 μmol/L NOChR on Bax and Bcl-2 protein expression of SGC-7901 cells.
CONCLUSION： NOChR induces apoptosis of SGO7901 cell lines by activating PPARy and decreasing ra     

RRR—α—tocopheryl succinate inhibits human gastr cancer SGC—7901 cell growth by inducing apoptos and DNA synthesis arrest

AIM: To investigate the effects of growth inhibition of human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cell with RRR-alpha-tocopheryl succinate (VES), a derivative of natural Vitamin E, via inducing apoptosis and DNA synthesis arrest. METHODS: Human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells were regularly incubated in the presence of VES at 5, 10 and 20mg x L(-1) (VES was dissolved in absolute ethanol and diluted in RPMI 1640 complete condition media correspondingly to a final concentration of VES and 1 mL x L(-1) ethanol), succinic acid and ethanol equivalents as vehicle (VEH) control and condition media only as untreated (UT) control. Trypan blue dye exclusion analysis and MTT assay were applied to detect the cell proliferation. Cells were pulsed with 37kBq of tritiated thymidine and (3H) TdR uptake was measured to observe DNA synthesis. Apoptotic morphology was observed by electron microscopy and DAPI staining. Flow cytometry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay were performed to detect VES-triggered apoptosis.RESULTS: VES inhibited SGC-7901 cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. The growth curve showed suppression by 24.7%, 49.2% and 68.7% following 24h of VES treatment at 5, 10 and 20 mg x L(-1), respectively, similar to the findings from MTT assay. DNA synthesis was evidently reduced by 35%, 45% and 98% after 24h VES treatment at 20mg x L(-1) and 48 h at 10 and 20mg x L(-1), respectively. VES induced SGC-7901 cells to undergo apoptosis with typically apoptotic characteristics, including morphological changes of chromatin condensation, chromatin crescent formation/margination, nucleus fragmentation and apoptotic body formation, typical apoptotic sub-G1 peak by flow cytometry and increase of apoptotic cells by TUNEL assay in which 90% of cells underwent apoptosis after 48 h of VES treatment at 20 mg x L(-1). CONCLUSION: VES can inhibit human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cell growth by inducing apoptosis and DNA synthesis arrest. Inhibition of SGC-7901 cell growth by VES is dose- and time-dependent. Therefore VES can function as a potent chemotherapeutic agent against human gastric carcinogenesis.     

RRR-α-tocopheryl succinate inhibits human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cell growth by inducing apoptosis and DNA synthesis arrest

AIM: To investigate the effects of growth inhibition ofhuman gastric cancer SGC-7901 cell with RRR-α-tocopherylsuccinate (VES), a derivative of natural Vitamin E, viainducing apoptosis and DNA synthesis arrest.METHODS: Human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells wereregularly incubated in the presence of VES at 5, 10 and20mg@ L 1(VES was dissolved in absolute ethanol anddiluted in RPMI 1640 complete condition mediacorrespondingly to a final concentration of VES and 1mL@L-1 ethanol), succinic acid and ethanol equivalents asvehicle (VEH) control andcondition media only asuntreated (UT) control. Trypan blue dye exclusionanalysis and MTT assay were applied to detect the cellproliferation. 37kBq of tritiated thymidine was added tocells and [3H] TdR uptake was measured to observe DNAsynthesis. Apoptotic morphology was observed byelectron microscopy and DAPI staining. Flow cytometryand terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTPnick end labeling (TUNEL) assay were performed to detectVES-triggered apoptosis.RESULTS: VES inhibited SGC-7901 cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. The growth curve showed suppressionby 24.7%, 49.2% and 68.7% following 24h of VEStreatment at 5, 10 and 20 mg@L 1, respectively, similar tothe findings from MTT assay. DNA synthesis wasevidently reduced by 35%, 45% and 98% after 24h VEStreatment at 20 mg@ L-1 and 48h at 10 and 20 mg@ L 1,respectively. VES induced SGC-7901 cells to undergoapoptosis with typically apoptotic characteristics,including morphological changes of chromatincondensation, chromatin crescent formation/margination,nucleus fragmentation and apoptotic body formation,typical apoptotic sub-G1 peak by flow cytometry andincrease of apoptotic cells by TUNEL assay in which 90%of cells underwent apoptosis after 48h of VES treatment at20 mcg@L-1.CONCLUSION: VES can inhibit human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cell growth by inducing apoptosis and DNA synthesisarrest. Inhibition of SGC-7901 cell growth by VES is dose-and time-dependent. Therefore VES can function as apotent chemotherapeutic agent against human gastriccarcinogenesis.     

Molecule action mechanisms of NM-3 on human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells in vivo or in vitro

AIM: To study the molecule action mechanisms of NM-3 on the growth of human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells in vivo or in vitro. METHODS: SGC-7901 from human non-differentiated gastric cancer cell line was cultured with NM-3 at 100 mg/ml for 24 h. We observed its inhibitory rate and the density of micro-vascular growth in grafted mice with human gastric cancer SGC-7901. The apoptosis of human gastric cancer SGC-7901 was revealed in NM-3 treatment group by using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxy-uridine triphosphate-fluorescene nick end labeling (TUNEL) method and flow cytometry analysis. RESULTS: The growth of SGC-7901 cells was markedly inhibited compared with control growp, which was smaller than that in normal saline control group (4.17 g+/-0.22 g vs 9.45 g+/-1.38 g, P<0.01). The level of apoptosis of human gastric cell line SGC-7901 was obviously increased in NM-3 treatment group at 1 mg.L(-1) for 24 h. NM-3 inducing apoptotic index in NM-3 plus carboplatin group was 3.5 times that of carboplatin control group (TUNEL: 27.98+/-6.12% vs 12.94+/-2.12%, FACScan: 26.86+/-5.69% vs 11.86+/-1.09%, P<0.01). Western blot analysis showed that the apoptotic index of human gastric cancer was elevated for 12, 24 and 36 h with an evident time-effect relationship in groups at 100 mg.L(-1). NM-3 enhanced the inhibitive effects and sensitivity of chemotherapy for human gastric cancer in nude mice. These results suggested that NM-3 played a key inhibitive role in the growth of grafted human gastric cancer in nude mice. CONCLUSION: NM-3 can inhibit the growth of human gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901, and enhance the sensitivity of carboplatin on SGC-7901 and induced its apoptosis.     

Induction of apoptosis by arsenic trioxide and hydroxy camptothecin in gastriccancer cells in vitro

AIM To study the effects of arsenic trioxide and HCPT on different degrees of differentiated gastric cancer cells (SGC-7901, MKN-45, MKN-28)with respect to both cytotoxicity and induction of apoptosis in vitro. ~ODS The cytotoxicity of As2O3 and HCPT on gastric cancer cells was determined by MTTassay. Morphologic changes of apoptosis of gastric cancer cells were observed by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Apoptosis and cell cycle changes of gastric cancer cells induced by HCPT and As2O3 were investigated by TUNEL method and flow cytometry. RESULTS As2O3 and HCPT had remarkable cytotoxic effects on different degrees of differentiated gastric cancer cells. The IC50 of As2O3 on well differentiated gastric cancer cell MKN-28, moderately differentiated gastric cancer cell SGC-7901, and poorly differentiated gastric cancer cell MKN-28 were 8. 91 μmol/L, 10. 57 μmol/L, and 11.65 μmol/L, respectively. The IC50 of HCPT on MKN-28, SGC-7901, and MKN-45 were 9. 35 rg/L, 10. 21 rg/L, and 12. 63 mg/L respectively after 48 h treatment. After 12 h of exposure to both drugs, gastric cancer cells exhibited morphologic features of apoptosis, including cell shrinkage, nuclear condensation,and formation of apoptotic bodies. A typical subdiploid peak before G0/G1 phase was observed by flow cytometry. The apoptotic rates of SGC7901, MKN-45, and MKN-28 were 13. 84%, 22.52%, and 9. 68%, respectively after 48 h exposure to 10 μmol/L As2O3. The apoptotic rates of SGC-7901, MKN-45, and MKN-28 were 21.88%, 12.35%, and 30. 26%, respectively after 48 h exposure to 10 mg/L HCPT. The apoptotic indice were 7% - 15% as assessed by TUNEL method. The effect of As2O3 on SGC-7901 showed remarkable cell cycle specificity, which induced cell death in G1 phase, and blocked G2/M phase. HCPT also showed a remarkable cell cycle specificity, by inducing cell death and apoptosis in G1 phase and arrest of proliferation at S phase. CONCLUSION AS2O3 and HCPT exhibit significant cytotoxicity on gastric cancer cells by induction of apoptosis. As2O3 and HCPT might have a promising prospect in the treatment of gastric cancer, which needs to be further studied.