title: Tanshinone IIA reverses the malignant phenotype of SGC7901 gastric cancer cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tanshinone IIA (TIIA), a phenanthrenequinone derivative extracted from Salvia miltiorrhiza BUNGE, has been reported to be a natural anti-cancer agent in a variety of tumor cells. However, the effect of TIIA on gastric cancer cells remains unknown. In the present study, we investigated the influence of TIIA on the malignant phenotype of SGC7901 gastric cancer cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cells cultured in vitro were treated with TIIA (0, 1, 5, 10 μg/ml) and after incubation for different periods, cell proliferation was measured by MTT method and cell apoptosis and cell cycling were assessed by flow cytometry (FCM). The sensitivity of SGC7901 gastric cancer cells to anticancer chemotherapy was investigated with the MTT method, while cell migration and invasion were examined by wound-healing and transwell assays, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TIIA (1, 5, 10 μg/ml) exerted powerful inhibitory effects on cell proliferation (P < 0.05, and P < 0.01), and this effect was time- and dose-dependent. FCM results showed that TIIA induced apoptosis of SGC7901 cells, reduced the number of cells in S phase and increased those in G0/G1 phase. TIIA also significantly increased the sensitivity of SGC7901 gastric cancer cells to ADR and Fu. Moreover, wound-healing and transwell assays showed that TIIA markedly decreased migratory and invasive abilities of SGC7901 cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TIIA can reverse the malignant phenotype of SGC7901 gastric cancer cells, indicating that it may be a promising therapeutic agent.
authors.affiliation: The 88th Hospital of PLA, Taian, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Fa-Le
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Nai-Yi
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yong-Qiang
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yan-Peng
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Chun-Lei
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lv
mesh_terms: D045784:Abietanes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000494:pharmacology; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000494:pharmacology; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000494:pharmacology; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000494:pharmacology; D059585:G1 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D010641:Phenotype; D059807:S Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D045784:Abietanes; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; C021751:tanshinone; D004317:Doxorubicin; D005472:Fluorouracil