title: Investigation of the anti-cancer effect of quercetin on HepG2 cells in vivo.
abstract: Quercetin, a natural polyphenolic flavonoid compound, can inhibit the growth of several malignant cancers. However, the mechanism still remains unclear. Our previous findings have suggested that quercetin can significantly inhibit HepG2 cell proliferation and induce cell apoptosis in vitro. It can also affect cell cycle distribution and significantly decrease cyclin D1 expression. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer effect of quercetin on HepG2 tumor-bearing nude mice and its effect on cyclin D1 expression in the tumor tissue. First, the nude murine tumor model was established by subcutaneous inoculation of HepG2 cells, then quercetin was administered intraperitoneally, and the mice injected with saline solution were used as controls. The daily behavior of the tumor-bearing mice was observed and differences in tumor growth and survival rate were monitored. The expression of cyclin D1 in isolated tumor sections was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. We found that HepG2 tumor became palpable in the mice one-week post-inoculation. Tumors in the control group grew rapidly and the daily behavior of the mice changed significantly, including listlessness, poor feeding and ataxia. The mice in quercetin-treated group showed delayed tumor growth, no significant changes in daily behavior, and the survival rate was significantly improved. Finally, we observed increased tumor necrosis and a lighter cyclin D1 staining with reduced staining areas. Our findings thus suggest that quercetin can significantly inhibit HepG2 cell proliferation, and this effect may be achieved through the regulation of cyclin D1 expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemotherapy, Sichuan Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, the Sixth Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jiaxu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, the Second Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemotherapy, Sichuan Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Wenxiu
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemotherapy, Sichuan Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhujuan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemotherapy, Sichuan Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D015415:Biomarkers; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D019938:Cyclin D1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011794:Quercetin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D047368:Tumor Burden / Q000187:drug effects; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D015415:Biomarkers; D019938:Cyclin D1; D011794:Quercetin