[Inhibitory effect of cantharidin on invasion and metastasis of highly metastatic ovarian carcinoma cell line HO-8910PM].
OBJECTIVE
Cantharidin, a natural toxin, has specific antitumor actions. Many researches confirmed that nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) closely relates with invasion and metastasis of tumor. This study was designed to investigate inhibitory effect of cantharidin on metastasis-related ability of human highly metastatic ovarian carcinoma cell line HO-8910PM, and its mechanism.


METHODS
MTT assay was used to examine cytotoxicity of cantharidin on HO-8910PM cells. Effect of cantharidin on adhesion potential of HO-8910PM cells was tested by cell-Matrigel adhesion assay. Transwell chamber assay was performed to determine its effect on invasion and migration capacities of HO-8910PM cells. Protein levels of NF-kappaB P65 subunit and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were assessed by Western blot.


RESULTS
After 6-h treatment of 20 micromol/L of cantharidin, inhibitory rate of HO-8910PM cells was (8.4+/-2.2)%, inhibitory rates of invasion, migration, and adhesion capacities of HO-8910PM cells were (38.8+/-1.7)%, (40.3+/-5.6)%, and (55.1+/-6.7)%, respectively; protein levels of NF-kappaB P65 subunit and VEGF were down-regulated.


CONCLUSIONS
Cantharidin can inhibit migration, invasion, and adhesion of HO-8910PM cells. Its possible mechanism may be involved in down-regulations of NF-kappaB P65 subunit and VEGF.
He
Tai-Ping
TP
Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524023, P. R. China.
Mo
Li-Er
LE
Liang
Nian-Ci
NC
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002193:Cantharidin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA / Q000378:metabolism*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D002193:Cantharidin