苦参碱对肝癌细胞株SMMC-7721凋亡和自噬相关基因表达的影响

Establishment of a human hepatocellular carcinoma xenograft model in nude mice and evaluation of anticancer effects of matrine

AIM: To establish a human hepatocellular carcinoma model in BALB/c nude mice and to assess the anticancer effects of matrine against human hepatocellular carcinoma.

METHODS: Twenty-four 6-week-old male BALB/c nude mice were used in this study. A xenograft model of human hepatocellular carcinoma was established by subcutaneous injection of HepG2 cells into nude mice. The nude mice were then randomly divided into 4 groups: a 3-wk group, a 2-wk group, a 1-wk group and a control group. Except for the control group, the mice in other groups were given matrine (100 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal injection for 5 d every week. The general status and body weight of mice, the time to tumor formation, tumor volume and weight, and the reduced rate of tumor growth were assessed, and pathological changes were observed after HE staining to evaluate the anticancer effect of matrine.

RESULTS: The success rate of establishing the xenograft model was 100%. Matrine had an inhibitory effect on the growth of tumor xenografts. The reduced rates of tumor growth was 8.3% in the 1-wk group, 37.5% in the 2-wk group, and 54% in the 3-wk group. The reduced rates of tumor growth were significantly higher in the 3-wk and 2-wk groups than in the 1-wk group and control group (P < 0.01). There was also a significant difference between the 1-wk group and control group (P < 0.05), and between the 3-wk group and 2-wk group (P < 0.05). No obvious differences were found in histology of cancerous tissues between the three treatment groups and the control group. There were also no apparent differences in the general status or body weight of the animals among the four groups.

CONCLUSION: A nude mouse xenograft model of human hepatocellular carcinoma has been established successfully. Matrine at a dose of 100 mg/kg has anticancer effects without obvious toxic effects.

All-trans retinoic acid and oxaliplatin synergistically inhibit the proliferation of human liver cancer SMMC-7721 cells

AIM: To observe the effect of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and oxaliplatin (L-OHP) on the proliferation of human liver cancer SMMC-7721cells.

METHODS: SMMC-7721 cells were treated with ATRA (10^-5 mol/L) and/or different concentrations of L-OHP (10, 20 and 40 mg/L) for different durations (24, 48 and 72 h). After treatment, cell proliferation was assessed by MTT assay; cellular morphological changes were observed using an inverted microscope; and cell apoptosis and cell cycle progression were assayed by flow cytometry after cells were treated for 48 h.

RESULTS: ATRA and different concentrations of L-OHP, alone or in combination, significantly inhibited the growth, altered cell morphology, and increased apoptosis of SMMC-7721 cells in a dose - and time-dependent manner. Combined treatment with ATRA and L-OHP had more significant impact on cell growth and apoptosis than either mono-treatment. The growth of cells treated with ATRA and 20 mg/L of L-OHP showed no significant difference with those treated with ATRA and 40 mg/L of L-OHP.

CONCLUSION: ATRA and L-OHP synergistically inhibit the proliferation of human liver cancer SMMC-7721cells.