Exogenous morphine inhibits human gastric cancer MGC- 803 cell growth by cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induction.
Morphine is not only an analgesic treating pain for patients with cancer but also a potential anticancer drug inhibiting tumor growth and proliferation. To gain better insight into the involvement of morphine in the biological characteristics of gastric cancer, we investigated effects on progression of gastric carcinoma cells and the expression of some apoptosis-related genes including caspase-9, caspase-3, survivin and NF-κB using the MGC-803 human gastric cancer cell line. The viability of cells was assessed by MTT assay, proliferation by colony formation assay, cell cycle progression and apoptosis by flow cytometry and ultrastructural alteration by transmission electron microscopy. The influences of morphine on caspase-9, caspase-3, survivin and NF-κB were evaluated by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot. Our data showed that morphine could significantly inhibit cell growth and proliferation and cause cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase. MGC-803 cells which were incubated with morphine also had a higher apoptotic rate than control cells. Morphine also led to morphological changes of gastric cancer cells. The mechanism of morphine inhibiting gastric cancer progression in vitro might be associated with activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3 and inhibition of survivin and NF-κB.
Departments of Anesthesiology, The First affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China.
Yi
Y
Qin
Jing
J
Chen
Li
L
Li
Chun-Jie
CJ
Liao
Yu-Bing
YB
Liang
En-Jian
EJ
Guan
Yu-Bo
YB
Xie
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D053453:Caspase 9 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D059565:G2 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000077022:Survivin
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; C107489:BIRC5 protein, human; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000077022:Survivin; D009020:Morphine; D053148:Caspase 3; D053453:Caspase 9