Triptolide exerts anti-tumor effect on oral cancer and KB cells in vitro and in vivo.
Triptolide (TPL), a diterpenoid triepoxide purified from the Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, has been reported to potentiate the anti-tumor effect in various cancer cells. However, the effect of TPL on oral cancers is not yet evaluated. Herein we first demonstrate that TPL induces prominent growth inhibition and apoptosis in two oral cancer cell lines, SCC25 and OEC-M1 and in KB cells. Our results indicate that TPL induces a dose-dependent apoptosis of these cells at nanomolar concentration. Apoptosis signalings are both activated through time upon TPL treatment detected by elevated caspase-3, 8, 9 activities. In xenograft tumor mouse model, TPL injection successfully inhibits the tumor growth via apoptosis induction which was demonstrated by TUNEL assay. These results demonstrate that TPL exerts anti-tumor effect on oral cancer and KB cells and suggest further the potential of TPL combining with other chemotherapeutic agents or radiotherapy for advanced oral cancer.
Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, No. 161, Section 6, Min-Chuan East Road, Neihu 114, Taipei 114, Taiwan, ROC.
Yuan-Wu
YW
Chen
Gu-Jiun
GJ
Lin
Wei-Tso
WT
Chia
Chih-Kung
CK
Lin
Yi-Ping
YP
Chuang
Huey-Kang
HK
Sytwu
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D004852:Epoxy Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007624:KB Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D016513:Mice, SCID; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004224:Diterpenes; D004852:Epoxy Compounds; D010616:Phenanthrenes; C001899:triptolide