title: Astaxanthin Inhibits Proliferation of Human Gastric Cancer Cell Lines by Interrupting Cell Cycle Progression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Astaxanthin is a carotenoid pigment that has antioxidant, antitumoral, and anti-inflammatory properties. In this in vitro study, we investigated the mechanism of anticancer effects of astaxanthin in gastric carcinoma cell lines.
  
  
  METHODS
  The human gastric adenocarcinoma cell lines AGS, KATO-III, MKN-45, and SNU-1 were treated with various concentrations of astaxanthin. A cell viability test, cell cycle analysis, and immunoblotting were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The viability of each cancer cell line was suppressed by astaxanthin in a dose-dependent manner with significantly decreased proliferation in KATO-III and SNU-1 cells. Astaxanthin increased the number of cells in the G0/G1 phase but reduced the proportion of S phase KATO-III and SNU-1 cells. Phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) was decreased in an inverse dose-dependent correlation with astaxanthin concentration, and the expression of p27(kip-1) increased the KATO-III and SNU-1 cell lines in an astaxanthin dose-dependent manner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Astaxanthin inhibits proliferation by interrupting cell cycle progression in KATO-III and SNU-1 gastric cancer cells. This may be caused by the inhibition of the phosphorylation of ERK and the enhanced expression of p27(kip-1).
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Ha
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Jae
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Beom Jae
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Moon Kyung
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hoon Jai
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Ansan, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Tae
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Bak
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D024341:Xanthophylls; C005948:astaxanthine
keywords: Astaxanthin; Extracellular signal-regulated kinase; Human gastric adenocarcinoma; Proliferation; p27kip-1