Paclitaxel induces apoptosis in human gastric carcinoma cells.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the apoptosis in gastric cancer cells induced by paclitaxel, and the relation between this apoptosis and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax.


METHODS
In in vitro experiments, MTT assay was used to determine the cell growth inhibitory rate. Transmission electron microscope and TUNEL staining method were used to quantitatively and qualitively detect the apoptosis status of gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901 before and after the paclitaxel treatment. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of apoptosis-regulated gene Bcl-2 and Bax.


RESULTS
Paclitaxel inhibited the growth of gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901 in a dose-and time-dependent manner. Paclitaxel induced SGC-7901 cells to undergo apoptosis with typically apoptotic characteristics, including morphological changes of chromatin condensation, chromatin crescent formation, nucleus fragmentation and apoptotic body formation. Paclitaxel could reduce the expression of apoptosis-regulated gene Bcl-2, and improve the expression of apoptosis-regulated gene Bax.


CONCLUSIONS
Paclitaxel is able to induce the apoptosis in gastric cancer. This apoptosis may be mediated by down-expression of apoptosis-regulated gene Bcl-2 and up-expression of apoptosis-regulated gene Bax.
Zhou
Hai-Bo
HB
Department Of Gastroenterology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Jinan 250052, Shandong Province, China. zhouhbyy@fm365.com.cn
Zhu
Ju-Ren
JR
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; C494826:BAX protein, human; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D017239:Paclitaxel