title: Effect of arsenic trioxide on human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells: inhibition of proliferation and induction of apoptosis.
abstract: Arsenic trioxide (As(2)O(3)), a major ingredient of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is found to be an effective anticancer drug in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). The present study explored the use of As(2)O(3) on human hepatocellular carcinoma by in vitro study. The study showed that the clinically achievable concentration of As(2)O(3), i.e. 2 microM, inhibited the cell proliferation of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, HepG2, in a time-dependent manner. The mechanistic study showed that 2 microM of As(2)O(3) acted through induction of apoptosis in which caspase-3 was activated. The results also suggested that mitochondria did not take part in As(2)O(3)-induced apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Katy P Y
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Siu
authors.forename: Judy Y W
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Fung
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis; D000077237:Arsenic Trioxide; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects; D010087:Oxides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001152:Arsenicals; D010087:Oxides; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases; D000077237:Arsenic Trioxide