Effect of trichosanthin on apoptosis and telomerase activity of nasopharyngeal carcinomas in nude mice.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of trichosanthin (TCS) on telomerase activity and apoptosis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells implanted into nude mice.


METHODS
Nude mice implanted with CNE1 and CNE2 nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell lines were randomly divided into 3 groups, including TCS group, control group (treatment with saline only), and cyclophosphamide (CTX) group. The weight of mice and the tumor volume were measured. The ultra-microstructural changes were observed by transmission electron microscope. Expression of Bcl-2 and Bax were investigated by immunohistochemistry. Apoptosis of CNE1 and CNE2 cells was determined by the TUNEL method, and telomerase activity by TRAP-ELISA.


RESULTS
Compared with the normal control group (saline group), TCS significantly inhibited the growth of both CNE1 and CNE2 tumor cells. CTX also inhibited the growth of both CNE1 and CNE2 tumor cells but this inhibition was slightly slower compared with the TCS.


CONCLUSIONS
TCS suppresses the growth of CNE1 and CNE2 cells lines in vivo. Its anticancer effects were associated with induction of apoptosis and, at least partially, with suppression of telomerase activity.
Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
Min
M
Kang
Hesheng
H
Ou
Rensheng
R
Wang
Wenqi
W
Liu
Yan
Y
Mao
Anzhou
A
Tang
D000818:Animals; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000494:pharmacology; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002277:Carcinoma; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000494:pharmacology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D000077274:Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism*; D015978:Trichosanthin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D015978:Trichosanthin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; C509186:TERT protein, human; D019098:Telomerase