title: Effect of triptolide on malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours in vitro and in vivo.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours (MPNSTs) are invasive, hard-to-treat, soft tissue sarcomas. In this study, in vitro and in vivo effects of triptolide were investigated using human MPNST cell lines.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cultured STS-26T and ST88-14 cells were treated with 0-100 ng/ml triptolide (for determination of cell proliferation by sulphorhodamine B assay), with 12.5 ng/ml or 25 ng/ml triptolide (for analysis of caspase activity, effects on apoptotic pathway intermediates [by Western blots and flow cytometry], and for measurement of vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] and epidermal growth factor receptor [EGFR] levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). A xenograft model was established by injection of STS-26T cells into nude mice, and the effects of 250 μg/kg triptolide on tumour growth and apoptosis were compared with controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Triptolide significantly inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in vitro, through activation of caspases, in a dose- and time-dependent manner; VEGF and EGFR levels were suppressed. In vivo, triptolide inhibited the growth of STS-26T xenografts and reduced apoptosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Triptolide may have a therapeutic benefit in MPNST treatment.
authors: Department of General Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian, China. wwang09@yahoo.com
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Wang
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Lin
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Hong
authors: X
authors: X
authors: Li
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Zhang
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Zhang
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Lv
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D053181:Caspase 8 / Q000378:metabolism; D053453:Caspase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D004852:Epoxy Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004224:Diterpenes; D004852:Epoxy Compounds; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C001899:triptolide; D045304:Cytochromes c; C512478:EGFR protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D053148:Caspase 3; D053181:Caspase 8; D053453:Caspase 9