title: Picropodophyllin and sorafenib synergistically suppress the proliferation and motility of hepatocellular carcinoma cells.
abstract: Resistance is one limitation of sorafenib in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) is involved in cancer cell proliferation. To assess the potential synergistic antitumor effects of picropodophyllin (PPP), an IGF-1R inhibitor, HLF and PLC/PRL/5, HCC cells were treated with PPP alone or PPP in combination with sorafenib, a multikinase inhibitor. Normal human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were also used to analyze the antiangiogenic effects of the drugs. HCC cells and HUVECs were cultured on 96-well plates, and then treated with PPP, with and without the addition of sorafenib. A 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium inner salt assay and hematoxylin and eosin staining were then performed 48 h later. The HCC cells were also analyzed using scratch assays and hematoxylin and eosin staining after 48 h. The proliferation of HLF, PLC/PRF/5 and HUVEC cells was suppressed by the combination of 0.2 μM PPP and 3 μM sorafenib more effectively than by 10 μM sorafenib alone. The motility of HLF and PLC/PRF/5 cells was also suppressed to a greater extent with the combination of PPP at 0.2 μM and sorafenib at 3 μM than with sorafenib at 10 μM alone. The cells that had been treated with 0.2 μM PPP and 3 μM sorafenib also exhibited pyknotic nuclei, which is characteristic of apoptosis. In conclusion, PPP enhanced sorafenib-mediated suppression of proliferation and motility in HCC cells. Therefore, the combination of PPP and sorafenib may exert antitumor and antiangiogenic effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, National Hospital Organization, Shimoshizu Hospital, Yotsukaido, Chiba 284-0003, Japan.
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomizawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, National Hospital Organization, Shimoshizu Hospital, Yotsukaido, Chiba 284-0003, Japan.
authors.forename: Fuminobu
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shinozaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, National Hospital Organization, Shimoshizu Hospital, Yotsukaido, Chiba 284-0003, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasufumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Motoyoshi
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, National Hospital Organization, Shimoshizu Hospital, Yotsukaido, Chiba 284-0003, Japan.
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sugiyama
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, National Hospital Organization, Shimoshizu Hospital, Yotsukaido, Chiba 284-0003, Japan.
authors.forename: Shigenori
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, National Hospital Organization, Shimoshizu Hospital, Yotsukaido, Chiba 284-0003, Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sueishi
keywords: insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor; scratch assay