Tanshinone IIA induces growth inhibition and apoptosis in gastric cancer             in vitro and in vivo.
As a phytochemical derived from the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge,             Tanshinone IIA has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant             activity. Studies in breast, colon, prostate and lung cancer indicate that Tanshinone IIA             may exhibit a promising antitumor activity. However, systemic studies of the cytotoxic             effects of Tanshinone IIA on gastric cancer have not been described. The present             study offers a comprehensive evaluation of the antitumor effects of Tanshinone IIA             in gastric cancer cells in vitro and in a mouse xenograft model. Cell viability             and apoptosis in vitro were evaluated through the MTT assay and flow cytometry             analysis. The results indicate that Tanshinone IIA can induce gastric cancer cell             growth inhibition and apoptosis in a time- and concentration-dependent manner.             Furthermore, we investigated the mechanism of the apoptotic effects induced by             Tanshinone IIA. We found that Tanshinone IIA can not only cause cell cycle arrest             in the G2/M phase, but also trigger the intrinsic apoptotic signaling pathway.             The results suggest that Tanshinone IIA may serve as an effective adjunctive reagent             in the treatment of gastric cancer.
Department of Gastroenterology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China. chen5120@yahoo.com
Jian
J
Chen
Dong-Yun
DY
Shi
Shan-Lin
SL
Liu
Liang
L
Zhong
D045784:Abietanes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D059447:Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
D045784:Abietanes; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; C021751:tanshinone