[Effects of paclitaxel and 5-fluorouracil on growth inhibition and apoptosis of hepatoma cells: a comparative study].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of paclitaxel and 5-flurouracil (5-Fu) on growth inhibition and apoptosis of human hepatoma BEL-7402 cells.


METHODS
Growth inhibition of BEL-7402 cells treated with paclitaxel and 5-Fu, respectively, was measured by ATP-tumor chemosensitivity assay (ATP-TCA), and the cell cycle kinetics and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry and microscopic examination.


RESULTS
BEL-7402 cells were highly sensitive to paclitaxel with growth inhibition observed in both dose- and time-dependent manners (IC(50)=5.58 x 10(-7) mol/L). Paclitaxel induced significantly higher rate of cell apoptosis than the control group (P<0.05) but significantly lower rate than that induced by 5-Fu (P<0.01). Necrosis was observed predominantly in paclitaxel-treated cells whereas 5-Fu caused mainly cell apoptosis (P<0.05). Levels of apoptosis increased in proportion to the decrement of paclitaxel concentration but directly proportional to increment of 5-Fu concentration.


CONCLUSIONS
Paclitaxel and 5-Fu are effective in inducing growth inhibition and apoptosis of BEL-7402 cells. While 5-Fu causes mainly apoptosis in hepatoma cells, the anticancer mechanism of paclitaxel is predominantly through induction of necrosis.
Yu
Yuan-long
YL
Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan People's Hospital, Zhongshan 528403, China.
Ji
Ming-fang
MF
He
Jie-bing
JB
Li
Xiao-ling
XL
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000494:pharmacology; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D017239:Paclitaxel; D005472:Fluorouracil