title: Enhanced anti-tumor activity of triptolide in combination with irradiation for the treatment of oral cancer.
abstract: Advanced oral cancer has a poor prognosis because of the lack of an effective treatment. We explored the efficiency of combined treatment with triptolide and ionizing radiation for treating oral cancer. Human tongue cancer cells were treated with triptolide, ionizing radiation, or triptolide plus ionizing radiation. Cell proliferation, cell cycle arrest, and apoptotic influences were analyzed by FACS and immunohistochemistry. Tumor potency was examined in an in vivo human tongue cancer cells xenograft mouse model. Our results demonstrated that triptolide caused a marked reduction in colony number that was further enhanced with increasing doses of ionizing radiation. Triptolide increased apoptosis and decreased the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins. In vivo, combination treatment synergistically reduced tumor weight and volume possibly via the induction of apoptosis and reduction in anti-apoptotic protein expression. In conclusion, triptolide plus ionizing radiation treatment had synergistic anti-tumor effects, especially in vivo, and may be a promising combined modality therapy for advanced oral cancer.
authors: School of Dentistry, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Yuan-Wu
authors: YW
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Biology and Anatomy, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Gu-Jiun
authors: GJ
authors: Lin
authors: Department of Neurological Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Dong-Yuan
authors: DY
authors: Hueng
authors: Department of Biology and Anatomy, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Shing-Hwa
authors: SH
authors: Huang
authors: Orthopaedic Department, National Taiwan University Hospital, Hsin-Chu Branch, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Wei-Tso
authors: WT
authors: Chia
authors: School of Dentistry, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Yi-Shing
authors: YS
authors: Shieh
authors: Department of Biology and Anatomy, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Kuo-Hsing
authors: KH
authors: Ma
authors: Graduate Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Huey-Kang
authors: HK
authors: Sytwu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004852:Epoxy Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014059:Tongue / Q000187:drug effects; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D029757:Tripterygium / Q000737:chemistry*; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D004224:Diterpenes; D004852:Epoxy Compounds; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D010936:Plant Extracts; C001899:triptolide