[Effect of combination of eicosapentaenoic acid and epirubicin on human gastric carcinoma cell strain MGC-803].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of combination of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and The effects of EPA and epirubicin (EPI) on the human gastric carcinoma cell MGC-803 in vitro.


METHODS
EPI were measured by MTT assay , and the interaction between these two agents was evaluated by the isobologram technique of Berenbaum. Morphous of cell was observed by phase-contrast and electron microscope. Flow cytometry was used for cell cycle analysis.


RESULTS
EPA significantly inhibited the growth of MGC-803 cells in a dose- and time-dependent way (P < 0.01). Numerous abnormal particles were found around the nucleus of MGC-803 cells under phase-contrast microscope, and also many electron-dense material in cytoplasm were found under electron microscope. EPA significantly stimulated the growth of human embryonal pulmonary fibroblast (HPF) dose-dependently (P < 0.01). A strong synergism was found between EPA and EPI in MGC-803 cells. EPA induced G0/G1-phase arrest but without statistical significance (P > 0.05), and EPI significantly induced S-phase arrest (P < 0.05) in MGC-803 cells.


CONCLUSIONS
EPA can inhibit cell growth in gastric carcinoma cells but not in normal cells. EPA and EPI have synergetic effect in the inhibition of gastric carcinoma cells. Compared with EPI monotherapy, the combination of EPI and EPA can reduce the dosage of EPI.
Guo
Wei-dong
WD
Department of General Surgery, PUMC Hospital, CAMS and PUMC, Beijing 100730, China.
Yu
Jian-chun
JC
Liu
Yu-qin
YQ
Kang
Wei-ming
WM
Peng
Wei-zhao
WZ
Gu
Bei
B
Dong
Ji-hong
JH
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004357:Drug Synergism; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans
D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D015251:Epirubicin