Inhibitory effect of ginsenoside Rg3 on ovarian cancer metastasis.
BACKGROUND
Ginsenosides are main components extracted from ginseng, and ginsenoside Rg3 is one of the most important parts. Ginsenoside Rg3 has been found to inhibit several kinds of tumor growth and metastasis. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of ginsenoside Rg3 on human ovarian cancer metastasis and the possible mechanism.


METHODS
The experimental lung metastasis models of ovarian cancer SKOV-3 and the assay of tumor-induced angiogenesis were used to observe the inhibitory effects of Rg3 on tumor metastasis and angiogenesis. The effect of Rg3 on invasive ability of SKOV-3 cells in vitro was detected by Boyden chamber, and immunofluorescence staining was used to recognize the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) in SKOV-3 cells.


RESULTS
In the experimental lung metastasis models of ovarian cancer, the number of tumor colonies in the lung and vessels oriented toward the tumor mass in each ginsenoside Rg3 group, was lower than that of control group. The invasive ability and MMP-9 expression of SKOV-3 cells decreased significantly after treatment with ginsenoside Rg3.


CONCLUSIONS
Ginsenoside Rg3 can significantly inhibit the metastasis of ovarian cancer. The inhibitory effect is partially due to inhibition of tumor-induced angiogenesis and decrease of invasive ability and MMP-9 expression of SKOV-3 cells.
Xu
Tian-Min
TM
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China. xutianmin@126.com
Cui
Man-Hua
MH
Xin
Ying
Y
Gu
Li-Ping
LP
Jiang
Xin
X
Su
Man-Man
MM
Wang
Ding-Ding
DD
Wang
Wen-Jia
WJ
D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000556:secondary; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000517:prevention & control; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D036145:Ginsenosides; C097367:ginsenoside Rg3; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9