title: Aspirin induces apoptosis in vitro and inhibits tumor growth of human             hepatocellular carcinoma cells in a nude mouse xenograft model.
abstract: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are known to induce apoptosis             in a variety of cancer cells, including colon, prostate, breast and leukemia.             Among them, aspirin, a classical NSAID, shows promise in cancer therapy in certain             types of cancers. We hypothesized that aspirin might affect the growth of liver             cancer cells since liver is the principal site for aspirin metabolism. Therefore,             we investigated the effects of aspirin on the HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma             cell line in vitro and the HepG2 cell xenograft model in BALB/c nude mice. We             found that treatment with aspirin inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis             involving both extrinsic and intrinsic pathways as measured by DNA ladder formation,             alteration in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, activation of the caspase activities and related             protein expressions. In vivo antitumor activity assay also showed that aspirin             resulted in significant tumor growth inhibition compared to the control. Oral             administration of aspirin (100 mg/kg/day) caused a significant reduction in the             growth of HepG2 tumors in nude mice. These findings suggest that aspirin may be             used as a promising anticancer agent against liver cancer.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Molecular Inflammation Research Center for Aging Intervention, Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Mohammad Akbar
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.forename: Dong Hwan
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jung Yoon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Yong Jung
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Jeong-Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Jeon-Ok
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Hae Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Gi-Young
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yung Hyun
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Bryan L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Copple
authors.forename: Nam Deuk
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D048708:Cell Growth Processes / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D001241:Aspirin