title: Synergism of cytotoxicity effects of triptolide and artesunate combination treatment in pancreatic cancer cell lines.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Triptolide, extracted from the herb Tripteryglum wilfordii Hook.f that has long been used as a natural medicine in China, has attracted much interest for its anti-cancer effects against some kinds of tumours in recent years. Artesunate, extracted from the Chinese herb Artemisia annua, has proven to be effective and safe as an anti-malarial drug that possesses anticancer potential. The present study attempted to clarify if triptolide enhances artesunate-induced cytotoxicity in pancreatic cancer cell lines in vitro and in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro, to test synergic actions, cell viability and apoptosis were analyzed after treatment of pancreatic cancer cell lines with the two agents singly or in combination. The molecular mechanisms of apoptotic effects were also explored using qRT-PCR and Western blotting. In vivo, a tumor xenograft model was established in nude mice, for assessment of inhibitory effects of triptolide and artesunate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We could show that the combination of triptolide and artesunate could inhibit pancreatic cancer cell line growth, and induce apoptosis, accompanied by expression of HSP 20 and HSP 27, indicating important roles in the synergic effects. Moreover, tumor growth was decreased with triptolide and artesunate synergy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our result indicated that triptolide and artesunate in combination at low concentrations can exert synergistic anti-tumor effects in pancreatic cancer cells with potential clinical applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China E-mail : Cuiyunfu1234@yahoo.cn.
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yun-Fu
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Cui
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077332:Artesunate; D015153:Blotting, Western; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004852:Epoxy Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D055551:HSP27 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D037621:Artemisinins; D004224:Diterpenes; D004852:Epoxy Compounds; D055551:HSP27 Heat-Shock Proteins; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C001899:triptolide; D000077332:Artesunate