title: Inhibition of proliferation and induction of apoptosis by the combination of β-carotene and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in human esophageal cancer EC9706 cells.
abstract: Esophageal cancer is a common malignant tumor occurring in human esophageal epithelial tissue. The primary purpose of this paper was to define the effects of β-carotene and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, alone and in combination, on cell proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis of human esophageal cancer EC9706 cells. Treatment with different concentrations of β-carotene and/or 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. MTT assay showed that β-carotene and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 significantly inhibited proliferation of EC9706 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Further studies also demonstrated that β-carotene alone or 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 alone caused a marked increase on the induction of apoptosis in EC9706 cells. The percentage of G0/G1-phase cells significantly increased on addition of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 alone, but there were no significant changes with β-carotene alone. These two agents in combination synergistically inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis. Therefore, our results indicate that β-carotene and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in combination may provide a novel strategy for preventing and treating esophageal cancer.
authors: Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, and Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
authors: Shao-Kang
authors: SK
authors: Wang
authors: Lei
authors: L
authors: Yang
authors: Ting-Ting
authors: TT
authors: Wang
authors: Gui-Ling
authors: GL
authors: Huang
authors: Li-Gang
authors: LG
authors: Yang
authors: Gui-Ju
authors: GJ
authors: Sun
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D019207:beta Carotene; D002117:Calcitriol