[Effect of combination of docosahexaenoic acid and fluorouracil on human gastric carcinoma cell strain MGC803].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of the combination of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and fluorouracil (FU) on human gastric carcinoma cell strain MGC803 in vitro.


METHODS
The influences of DHA and FU alone or in combination on cell proliferation was detected using MTT assay. Dose of median (Dm) of drugs (alone or in combination) and the combination index (CI) were calculated using the combination index equation of Chou-Talalay. Cell cycle were examined using flow cytometry. Cell apoptosis was determined by Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining method. The expression of apoptosis-related protein was detected using Western blot.


RESULTS
DHA significantly inhibited the growth of MGC803, and low-dose DHA induced the proliferation of human embryonic lung fibroblast (P < 0.05). DHA remarkably strengthened the inhibitive effect of FU on the growth of MGC803, and decreased the Dm of FU by 3.6-2.5 folds (P < 0.05). When the inhibitory ratio reached 30%, the combination of DHA and FU showed synergism (CI < 1) and significant G(0)/G(1) arrest (vs FU, P < 0.05). DHA increased the apoptosis-inducing effect of FU and upregulated the cleaved-caspase-3 expression.


CONCLUSIONS
DHA can inhibit the growth of MGC803. When combined with FU, DHA has synergetic effect in inhibiting the proliferation of gastric cancer cells and meanwhile decrease the dose of FU.
Wu
Quan
Q
Department of General Surgery, PUMC Hospital, CAMS and PUMC, Beijing 100730, China.
Yu
Jian-chun
JC
Liu
Yu-qin
YQ
Kang
Wei-ming
WM
Guo
Wei-dong
WD
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D005472:Fluorouracil