title: DATS suppresses growth of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by regulation of ERK1/2.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is well known that garlics contain a large number of organosulfur compounds including diallyl trisulfide (DATS), which possess anticancer properties. However, the effects of DATS on esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) growth are still poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of DATS on ESCC cell growth in vivo and in vitro, as well as the associated signaling pathways.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cell proliferation was measured using the crystal violet assay. The transwell method was used to evaluate the effect of DATS on ESCC cell migration. Also, Western blot was performed to detect the activation of ERK1/2 and AKT1 responds to DATS. Finally, the effect of DATS on ESCC xenografts in nude mice was also investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results showed that DATS significantly inhibited ESCC cell proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner. DATS time-dependently (p < 0.05) increased phosphorylation of ERK1/2, but not AKT1. Suppression of ERK1/2 activation with PD9805 also completely blocked DATS-inhibited ESCC cell proliferation. Meanwhile, DATS also robustly suppressed ESCC xenograft growth and increased ERK1/2 activation in nude mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our finding demonstrated that DATS inhibits the proliferation of ESCC cells by activation of ERK1/2 in vitro and in vivo. These findings revealed that DATS could be used for therapeutic intervention for human ESCC.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shenglei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Liuxing
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zong
authors.forename: Qingxia
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Fan
mesh_terms: D000498:Allyl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D010766:Phosphorylation; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D013440:Sulfides / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000498:Allyl Compounds; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D013440:Sulfides; C042577:diallyl trisulfide; C494918:AKT1 protein, human; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases