Oxymatrine diminishes the side population and inhibits the expression of β-catenin in MCF-7 breast cancer cells

Neuroprotective Effects of Oxymatrine via Triggering Autophagy and Inhibiting Apoptosis Following Spinal Cord Injury in Rats

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating neurological disorder characterized by high morbidity and disability. However, there is still a lack of effective treatments for it. The identification of drugs that promote autophagy and inhibit apoptosis in neurons is critical for improving patient outcomes following SCI. Previous studies have shown that increasing the activity of silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) and downstream protein AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in rat models of SCI is highly neuroprotective. Oxymatrine (OMT), a quinolizidine alkaloid, has exhibited neuroprotective effects in various central nervous system (CNS) diseases. However, its explicit effect and molecular mechanism in SCI are still unclear. Herein, we aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of OMT and explore the potential role of autophagy regulation following SCI in rats. A modified compressive device (weight 35 g, time 5 min) was applied to induce moderate SCI in all groups except the sham group. After treatment with drugs or vehicle (saline), our results indicated that OMT treatment significantly reduced the lesion size, promoted survival of motor neurons, and subsequently attenuated motor dysfunction following SCI in rats. OMT significantly enhanced autophagy activity, inhibited apoptosis in neurons, and increased SIRT1 and p-AMPK expression levels. Interestingly, these effects of OMT on SCI were partially prevented by co-treatment with SIRT1 inhibitor EX527. Furthermore, combining OMT with the potent autophagy inhibitor chloroquine (CQ) could effectively abolish its promotion of autophagic flux. Taken together, these data revealed that OMT exerts a neuroprotective role in functional recovery against SCI in rats, and these effects are potentially associated with OMT-induced activation of autophagy via the SIRT1/AMPK signaling pathway.

Signaling pathways governing the maintenance of breast cancer stem cells and their therapeutic implications

Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) represent a distinct subpopulation of cells with the ability to self-renewal and differentiate into phenotypically diverse tumor cells. The involvement of CSC in treatment resistance and cancer recurrence has been well established. Numerous studies have provided compelling evidence that the self-renewal ability of cancer stem cells is tightly regulated by specific signaling pathways, which exert critical roles to maintain an undifferentiated phenotype and prevent the differentiation of CSCs. Signaling pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin, NF-κB, Notch, Hedgehog, TGF-β, and Hippo have been implicated in the promotion of self-renewal of many normal and cancer stem cells. Given the pivotal role of BCSCs in driving breast cancer aggressiveness, targeting self-renewal signaling pathways holds promise as a viable therapeutic strategy for combating this disease. In this review, we will discuss the main signaling pathways involved in the maintenance of the self-renewal ability of BCSC, while also highlighting current strategies employed to disrupt the signaling molecules associated with stemness.

Anticancer effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine on epithelial-mesenchymal transition（EMT） in breast cancer: Cellular and molecular targets

Breast cancer is a malignant epithelial tumor of ductal or lobular origin. Breast cancer remains the most frequently diagnosed invasive cancer in women and is the leading cause of cancer-associated mortality worldwide. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a phenotypic process of conversion from epithelial to mesenchymal cells, allows tumor cells to acquire infiltration and metastasization properties. Therapies directed at pathways, which are primarily involved in malignant transformation, can lead to clinical implications. In recent years, EMT has gained increasing attention as a potential therapeutic target in cancer therapy. Moreover, for the past few decades, increasing numbers of studies have suggested that Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) compounds can significantly inhibit the growth and development of breast cancer cells through the inhibition of EMT in breast cancer cells. This review discusses some essential signaling pathways associated with EMT and summarizes the effects and mechanism of TCM components on that inhibit EMT in breast cancer therapy.

Role of Phytonutrients in Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics Perspective in Curing Breast Cancer

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common type of cancer and an important contributor to female mortality. Several genes and epigenetic modifications are involved in the development and progression of BC. Research in phytochemistry, nutrigenomics, and nutrigenetics has provided strong evidence that certain phytonutrients are able to modulate gene expression at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Such phytonutrients may also be beneficial to prevent and treat BC. In this review, we will focus on the nutrigenomic effects of various phytochemicals including polyphenols, phytosterols, terpenoids, alkaloids, and other compounds from different sources. Overall, these phytonutrients are found to inhibit BC cell proliferation, differentiation, invasion, metastasis, angiogenesis, and induce apoptotic cell death by targeting various molecular pathways. They also alter epigenetic mechanisms and enhance the chemosensitivity and radiosensitivity of cancer cells. Such phytochemicals may be used for the effective management of BC patients in the clinical setting in the future. The present article aims to summarize the specific molecular pathways involved in the genetic effects of phytochemicals in BC.

Alternative models of cancer stem cells: The stemness phenotype model, 10 years later

The classical cancer stem cell (CSCs) theory proposed the existence of a rare but constant subpopulation of CSCs. In this model cancer cells are organized hierarchically and are responsible for tumor resistance and tumor relapse. Thus, eliminating CSCs will eventually lead to cure of cancer. This simplistic model has been challenged by experimental data. In 2010 we proposed a novel and controversial alternative model of CSC biology (the Stemness Phenotype Model, SPM). The SPM proposed a non-hierarchical model of cancer biology in which there is no specific subpopulation of CSCs in tumors. Instead, cancer cells are highly plastic in term of stemness and CSCs and non-CSCs can interconvert into each other depending on the microenvironment. This model predicts the existence of cancer cells ranging from a pure CSC phenotype to pure non-CSC phenotype and that survival of a single cell can originate a new tumor. During the past 10 years, a plethora of experimental evidence in a variety of cancer types has shown that cancer cells are indeed extremely plastic and able to interconvert into cells with different stemness phenotype. In this review we will (1) briefly describe the cumulative evidence from our laboratory and others supporting the SPM; (2) the implications of the SPM in translational oncology; and (3) discuss potential strategies to develop more effective therapeutic regimens for cancer treatment.

Natural and herbal compounds targeting breast cancer, a review based on cancer stem cells

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are known as the major reason for therapy resistance. Recently, natural herbal compounds are suggested to have a significant role in inhibiting the breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs). The aim of this study was to explore the effective natural herbal compounds against BCSCs.This review article was designed based on the BCSCs, mechanisms of therapy resistance and natural herbal compounds effective to inhibit their activity. Therefore, Science direct, PubMed and Scopus databases were explored and related original articles were investigated from 2010 to 2019. BCSCs use different mechanisms including special membrane transporters, anti-apoptotic, pro-survival, and self-renewal- related signaling pathways. Natural herbal compounds could disturb these mechanisms, therefore may inhibit or eradicate the BCSCs. Studies show that a broad range of plants, either as a food or medicine, contain anti-cancer agents that phenolic components and their different derivatives share a large quantity. Natural herbal compounds play a pivotal role in the eradication of BCSCs, through the inhibition of biological activities and induction of apoptosis. Although it is necessary to conduct more clinical investigation.

Oxymatrine Inhibits Renal Cell Carcinoma Progression by Suppressing β-Catenin Expression

Aims

Oxymatrine (OMT) has been identified to possess immunomodulatory, antiinflammatory and anticancer properties. This study aimed to investigate its precise function and the underlying molecular mechanisms in renal cell carcinoma progression.

Methods

The antineoplastic effect of oxymatrine was investigated by CCK-8 assay, cell cycle analysis, apoptosis assay, wound healing experiment, transwell assay, and drug-sensitivity analysis in renal cancer cells following oxymatrine treatment. The modulation of oxymatrine on β-catenin was analyzed through western blot and immunofluorescence assay. β-catenin overexpression was employed to determine the key role of β-catenin in oxymatrine-inhibited renal cell carcinoma in vitro. In addition, animal model was established to investigate the effect of oxymatrine on tumor growth in vivo.

Results

Oxymatrine inhibited renal cell carcinoma progression in vitro, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion and chemotherapy sensitivity. Further mechanistic studies demonstrated that oxymatrine exerted its antineoplastic effect through suppressing the expression of β-catenin. Moreover, in nude mice model, oxymatrine exhibited remarkable inhibition of tumor growth, which was consistent with our in vitro results.

Conclusions

Our findings illuminate oxymatrine as an effective antitumor agent in renal cell carcinoma, and suggest it a promising therapeutic application in renal cell carcinoma treatment.

Anti-Tumor Activities of Bioactive Phytochemicals in Sophora flavescens for Breast Cancer

Patients with breast cancer and breast cancer survivors are frequent users of botanicals and their bioactive phytochemicals. In China, active ingredients in Sophora flavescens like matrine (MT), oxymatrine (OMT), other Sophora flavescens alkaloids and Compound Kushen Injection (CKI) are extensively used for multiple malignant tumors. In vivo and in vitro studies have confirmed that these activities or injection have significant effects on relieving symptoms, alleviating side effects after chemotherapy and improving the quality of life of breast cancer patients, where there is evidence for efficacy. A large number of experimental studies have also revealed that they can inhibit the proliferation, invasion and migration of breast cancer cells according to different mechanisms. This provides promising valuable supportive therapies for prevention, treatment and postoperative recovery of breast cancer. Rigorous clinical research and experimental studies reflect integrative care as it is used in hospital is needed to responsibly move this field forward. This review summarizes an up to date knowledge of the available bioactive phytochemicals, their discovery, current clinical and experimental status.

Oxymatrine inhibits the migration and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by reducing the activity of MMP-2/-9 via regulating p38 signaling pathway

As one of the major alkaloid components in Sophoraflavescensait (kushen), oxymatrine has been used widely across the world in anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer therapies. However, the effect in the metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and related mechanism(s) are still unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the anti-metastatic effect of oxymatrine on HCC cells. Oxymatrine could also inhibit the protein levels of MMP-2/-9 in a dose-dependent relationship. Moreover, oxymatrine reduces the activity of p38 signaling pathway via inhibiting the phosphorylation of p38. The inhibition effect of oxymatrine on the expression of MMP-2/-9 and the phosphorylated of p38 was also detected in vivo. Combined treatment with p38 signaling pathway inhibitor and oxymatrine may have a synergistic effect on MMP-2/-9 and invasion of HCC cells. Therefore, oxymatrine may have inhibited GBC invasiveness by reducing the expression of MMP-2/-9 via inhibiting the activity of p38 signaling pathway. As a potentially novel therapeutic drug, oxymatrine may play an important role in the treatment of HCC.

Oxymatrine reverses epithelial-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer cells by depressing αⅤβ3 integrin/FAK/PI3K/Akt signaling activation

Purpose

Oxymatrine, an alkaloid extracted from the Chinese herb Sophora flavescens Aiton, possesses anti-inflammatory, anti-immune, anti-hepatic fibrosis, and anti-cancer properties. However, the effects of oxymatrine on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of breast cancer cells are still unclear.

Aim

The present study was performed to investigate whether oxymatrine reverses EMT in breast cancer cells and to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Materials and methods

MTT assay was performed to evaluate cell viability. Wound-healing assay and transwell chamber assay were used to assess cell migration and invasion, respectively. Immunofluorescence and Western blot were used to study the expression of EMT-related molecules and α_Ⅴβ₃ integrin/focal adhesion kinase (FAK)/phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling transduction. Fibronectin, a physiologic ligand of α_Ⅴβ₃ integrin, was used to stimulate α_Ⅴβ₃ integrin signaling.

Results

Our results demonstrated that oxymatrine effectively suppressed the viability of MDA-MB-231 and 4T1 breast cancer cells, and oxymatrine showed less cytotoxicity on normal breast mammary epithelial MCF-10A cells. In addition, oxymatrine reversed EMT in the MDA-MB-231 and 4T1 cells at nontoxic concentrations. Oxymatrine significantly inhibited cell migration and invasion, downregulated the expression of N-cadherin, vimentin, and Snail in MDA-MB-231 and 4T1 cells, but upregulated the expression of E-cadherin in 4T1 cells. The mechanism revealed that oxymatrine decreased the expression of α_Ⅴ and β₃ integrin and their co-localization. It also inhibited α_Ⅴβ₃ integrin downstream activation by suppressing the phosphorylation of FAK, PI3K, and Akt. Furthermore, oxymatrine prevented fibronectin-induced EMT and α_Ⅴβ₃ integrin/FAK/PI3K/Akt signaling activation.

Conclusion

Our results revealed that oxymatrine effectively reversed EMT in breast cancer cells by depressing α_Ⅴβ₃ integrin/FAK/PI3K/Akt signaling. Thus, oxymatrine could be a potential therapeutic candidate with anti-metastatic potential for the treatment of breast cancer.

The cytotoxic effect of oxymatrine on basic cellular processes of A549 non-small lung cancer cells

Oxymatrine is the alkaloid derived from the root of Sophora species. This compound is proven to exhibit anti-viral, anti-asthmatic, anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory properties. Additionally, oxymatrine is able to promote cancer cells apoptosis and inhibit their proliferation. The aim of this study was to present the influence of oxymatrine on non-small cell lung cancer cells. The results indicate, that this agent induces dose-dependent cell death mainly through ER stress-induced apoptosis pathway. We also suggest that the oxymatrine reduces the metastatic potential by inhibition of the EMT process, as A549 cells treated with chosen doses of the compound were characterized by a decrease in the expression of the N-cadherin, vimentin and the elevation of E-cadherin level. Moreover, the study broadens the knowledge on so far poorly understood aspect of the influence of oxymatrine on the cytoskeleton structure.

Oxymatrine Attenuates Tumor Growth and Deactivates STAT5 Signaling in a Lung Cancer Xenograft Model

Oxymatrine (OMT) is a major alkaloid found in radix Sophorae flavescentis extract and has been reported to exhibit various pharmacological activities. We elucidated the detailed molecular mechanism(s) underlying the therapeutic actions of OMT in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells and a xenograft mouse model. Because the STAT5 signaling cascade has a significant role in regulating cell proliferation and survival in tumor cells, we hypothesized that OMT may disrupt this signaling cascade to exert its anticancer effects. We found that OMT can inhibit the constitutive activation of STAT5 by suppressing the activation of JAK1/2 and c-Src, nuclear localization, as well as STAT5 binding to DNA in A549 cells and abrogated IL-6-induced STAT5 phosphorylation in H1299 cells. We also report that a sub-optimal concentration of OMT when used in combination with a low dose of paclitaxel produced significant anti-cancer effects by inhibiting cell proliferation and causing substantial apoptosis. In a preclinical lung cancer mouse model, OMT when used in combination with paclitaxel produced a significant reduction in tumor volume. These results suggest that OMT in combination with paclitaxel can cause an attenuation of lung cancer growth both in vitro and in vivo.

Radix Sophorae Flavescentis inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis of AGS human gastric cancer cells

Traditional herbal medicines are being increasingly used worldwide to treat cancer. Radix Sophorae Flavescentis (RSF) is a Chinese herb, which has numerous pharmacological properties, including anti‑tumour effects. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms underlying RSF‑induced apoptosis in human gastric cancer cells (AGS cells). We found that RSF treatment (20‑200 µg/ml) inhibited the proliferation of AGS cells and increased the sub‑G1 phase ratio. RSF‑induced cell death was associated with the downregulation of BCl‑2 and upregulation of Bax. In addition to increasing the expression levels of apoptosis‑mediating surface antigen FAS and Fas ligand, RSF also activated caspase‑3; however, mitogen‑activated protein kinase appeared to inhibit RSF‑induced cell death. RSF also led to an increased production of reactive oxygen species. Based on these results, we propose that RSF could be a potential therapeutic agent for gastric cancer.

Correlation between replicative senescence of endometrial gland epithelial cells in shedding and non-shedding endometria and endometriosis cyst during menstruation

To investigate correlation between abnormal replicative senescence of endometrial gland epithelial cells (EGECs) in shedding and non-shedding endometria and endometriosis cyst during menstruation. Musashi-1 expression, β-catenin expression, and EGECs ultrastructure in shedding and non-shedding endometrium when menstruation were observed through real-time PCR and transmission electron microscopy technologies. (1) Musashi-1 and β-catenin exhibited a high expression in shedding and non-shedding endometria in experimental group, showing a positive correlation between each other; and were significantly higher than that in control group. However; there was no correlation between these two in control group. (2) Transmission electron microscopy results: In experimental group, organelles in EGECs in shedding endometrium obtained were abundant on the first day of menstruation, nuclei were irregular, double nucleoli could be observed, and chromatin was rich. Furthermore, morphology of EGECs in non-shedding endometrium was irregular, organelles were abundant, basement membrane was irregular with abnormal curvature, and a large amount of collagenic fibers were found in intercellular spaces. On the fifth day of menstruation, the cilia and microvilli on secretory cells in endometrium increased and prolongated, and organelles became extremely rich. EGECs have potentials of division, proliferation, invasion and migration; and is associated with formation of endometriosis cysts.

Oxymatrine Synergistically Potentiates the Antitumor Effects of Cisplatin in Human Gastric Cancer Cells

Cisplatin (CDDP) has been extensively used for gastric cancer (GC) treatment but limited by drug resistance and severe toxicity. The chemo-sensitizers that enhance its efficiency and overcome its limitation are urgently needed. Oxymatrine (OMT), a primary active ingredient from the dry roots of Sophora favescens, has shown powerful anti-cancer property with little side-effect. In this study, we explored the chemo-sensitization of OMT to potentiate the anti-tumor effect of CDDP. GC cell lines were dealt with OMT and/or CDDP and then subjected to different experimental methods. We found that OMT could significantly potentiate the CDDP-caused BGC-823 and SGC7901 cells viability loss, and OMT acts synergistically with CDDP. The combinative treatment could arrest cell cycle in G0/G1 phase by increasing p21, p27 and decreasing cyclin D1, and induced apoptosis by ROS generation and AKT/ERK inactivation. Inhibition of ROS respectively reversed the cell death induced by OMT and/or CDDP, suggesting the pivotal roles of ROS in the process. Moreover, OMT enhanced the antitumor effects of CDDP in nude mice bearing BGC823 tumor xenografts in vivo. Taken together, this study highlights that the co-treatment with OMT and CDDP exerted synergistic antitumor effects in GC cells, and that these effects may be mediated by ROS generation and inactivation of the AKT/ERK pathways.

Effect of Cinnamic acid and FOLFOX in diminishing side population and downregulating cancer stem cell markers in colon cancer cell line HT-29

PURPOSE

There is a lot of evidence suggesting that a small subset of cancer cells resistant to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy and known as cancer stem cells (CSCs) is responsible for promoting metastasis and cancer relapse. Therefore, targeting and eliminating the CSCs could lead to higher survival rates and a better quality of life. In comparison with conventional chemical drugs that may not be effective against CSCs, phytochemicals are strong anti-CSCs agents. The current study examines the effect of 5-fluorouracil plus oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) as a common chemotherapy drug on colorectal cancer as well as the influence of Cinnamic acid (CINN) as a plant-derived phytochemical on colon cancer stem-like cells in HT-29 adenocarcinoma cell line.

METHODS

The anti-proliferative effect of FOLFOX and CINN was determined using MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay. Flow cytometry analysis was used for the identification of side population (SP), CD44, and CD133 positive cells. The expression of OCT4, NANOG, ABCB1, and ALDH1A was assessed by RT-PCR.

RESULTS

The FOLFOX and CINN decreased cell viability in certain drug concentrations: IC50 = 5,40 μM oxaliplatin +220 μM 5-fluorouracil, and 13,50 mM for CINN. The CSC-associated markers (OCT4, NANOG, ABCB1, and ALDH1A) and the proportion of cancer stem-like cells (SP cells, CD44, and CD133 positive cells) were downregulated following the treatment of HT-29 adenocarcinoma cell line with IC50 concentrations of FOLFOX and CINN.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggests that CINN, a naturally occurring component, could be more effective than FOLFOX treatment in reducing the cancer stem-like cells and expression of CSC markers from HT-29 colon cancer cells. Graphical abstract ᅟ.

Oxymatrine Promotes S-Phase Arrest and Inhibits Cell Proliferation of Human Breast Cancer Cells in Vitro through Mitochondria-Mediated Apoptosis

Breast cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies in the world. Oxymatrine is the major effective and toxic alkaloid component which is derived from the root of Sophora flavescens AIT, a traditional Chinese medicine which is widely distributed in Asia and the Pacific Islands. In the current research study, we investigated the effects and mechanisms of action of oxymatrine on breast cancer cells. We demonstrated that the viability and single cell proliferation capability of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, two breast cancer cell lines which are widely used in in vitro study, were significantly suppressed in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, the cell cycle of breast cancer cells treated with oxymatrine was arrested at the S-phase of the cell cycle. Oxymatrine also triggered apoptosis in breast cancer cells by modulating apoptosis-related proteins, such as cleaved Caspase-3, cleaved Caspase-9 and poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP). The remarkable reduction in the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax was also observed in oxymatrine treated breast cancer cells. In conclusion, our research demonstrated that oxymatrine plays a critical role in suppressing carcinogenesis of breast cancer cells through cell cycle arrest and induction of mitochondria-mediated apoptosis, which suggests a promising application of this drug in breast cancer therapy.

Identification of candidate anti-cancer molecular mechanisms of Compound Kushen Injection using functional genomics

Compound Kushen Injection (CKI) has been clinically used in China for over 15 years to treat various types of solid tumours. However, because such Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) preparations are complex mixtures of plant secondary metabolites, it is essential to explore their underlying molecular mechanisms in a systematic fashion. We have used the MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line as an initial in vitro model to identify CKI induced changes in gene expression. Cells were treated with CKI for 24 and 48 hours at two concentrations (1 and 2 mg/mL total alkaloids), and the effect of CKI on cell proliferation and apoptosis were measured using XTT and Annexin V/Propidium Iodide staining assays respectively. Transcriptome data of cells treated with CKI or 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) for 24 and 48 hours were subsequently acquired using high-throughput Illumina RNA-seq technology. In this report we show that CKI inhibited MCF-7 cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent fashion. We integrated and applied a series of transcriptome analysis methods, including gene differential expression analysis, pathway over-representation analysis, de novo identification of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) as well as co-expression network reconstruction, to identify candidate anti-cancer molecular mechanisms of CKI. Multiple pathways were perturbed and the cell cycle was identified as the potential primary target pathway of CKI in MCF-7 cells. CKI may also induce apoptosis in MCF-7 cells via a p53 independent mechanism. In addition, we identified novel lncRNAs and showed that many of them might be expressed as a response to CKI treatment.

Chronic oxymatrine treatment induces resistance and epithelial‑mesenchymal transition through targeting the long non-coding RNA MALAT1 in colorectal cancer cells

A major reason for colorectal cancer (CRC) chemoresistance is the enhanced migration and invasion of cancer cells, such as the cell acquisition of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) has been considered as a pro-oncogene in multiple cancers. However, the precise functional mechanism of lncRNA MALAT1 in chemoresistance and EMT is not well known. In the present study, we focused on the effect of oxymatrine on CRC cells and further investigated the role of MALAT1 in oxymatrine-induced resistance and EMT process. The human CRC cell line HT29 was exposed to increasing doses of oxymatrine to establish stable cell lines resistant to oxymatrine. The established HT29 oxymatrine resistant cells showed an EMT phenotype including specific morphologic changes, enhanced migratory and invasive capacity, and downregulation of E-cadherin protein expression. Subsequently, high-throughput HiSeq sequencing and RT-qPCR showed that lncRNA MALAT1 was significantly upregulated in the oxymatrine resistant cells (P<0.01), while knockdown of MALAT1 partially reversed the EMT phenotype in HT29 resistant cells. Furthermore, oxymatrine treatment suppressed the migration and invasion ability of CRC cells, however, this effect was significantly reversed by overexpression of MALAT1. Finally, we investigated the clinical role of MALAT1 and found that high lncRNA MALAT1 expression level is associated with poor prognosis in CRC patients receiving oxymatrine treatment (P<0.01). In conclusion, we demonstrate that lncRNA MALAT1 is a stimulator for oxymatrine resistance in CRC and it may provide therapeutic and prognostic information for CRC patients.

Oxymatrine synergistically enhances antitumor activity of oxaliplatin in colon carcinoma through PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway

Oxymatrine (OMT), one of the main active components of extracts from the dry roots of Sophora flavescens, has been reported to possess many pharmacological properties including cancer-preventive and anti-cancer effects. The aim of the present study is to explore the efficiency of combination therapy with OMT and oxaliplatin (OXA) and identify the in vitro and in vivo cytotoxicity on colon cancer lines (HT29 and SW480) and mice model. Cells were treated with OMT and/or OXA and subjected to cell viability, colony formation, apoptosis, cell cycle, western blotting, xenograft tumorigenicity assay and immunohistochemistry. The results demonstrated that OMT and OXA inhibited the proliferation of colon cancer cells, and combination therapy of OMT and OXA resulted in a combination index < 1, indicating a synergistic effect. Co-treatment with OMT and OXA caused G0/G1 phase arrest by upregulating P21, P27 and downregulating cyclin D, and induced apoptosis through decreasing the expression of p-PI3K, p-AKT, p-mTOR, p-p70S6K. In addition, pretreatment with a specific PI3K/AKT activator (IGF-1) significantly neutralized the pro-apoptotic activity of OXA + OMT, demonstrating the important role of PI3K/AKT in this process. Moreover, in nude mice model, co-treatment displayed more efficient inhibition of tumor weight and volume on SW480 xenograft mouse model than single-agent treatment with OXA or OMT. Immunohistochemistry analysis suggests the combinations greatly suppressed tumor proliferation, which consistent with our in vitro results. In conclusion, our findings highlight that the combination therapy with OMT and OXA exerted synergistic antitumor effects in colon cancer cells through PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and combination treatment with OMT and OXA would be a promising therapeutic strategy for colon carcinoma treatment.

Proceedings of the Strategy Meeting for the Development of an International Consortium for Chinese Medicine and Cancer

On November 3, 2014, in Bethesda, MD, the Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine of the National Cancer Institute held a meeting to examine the potential utility and feasibility of establishing an international consortium for Chinese medicine and cancer. There is significant interest in the West in using components of Chinese medicine (CM) -such as botanicals and herbal medicines, acupuncture and acupressure, and qigong-in the field of oncology, as potential anticancer agents, for symptom management, and to improve quality of life. The proposal for a consortium on CM came from the Chinese Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, with the aims of improving scientific communications and collaborations and modernizing the studies of CM for cancer. The US National Cancer Institute's Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine agreed to work with Chinese Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences to explore the feasibility of establishing an international consortium for Chinese medicine and cancer. At the meeting, participants from the United States, China, Canada, Australia, and Korea discussed issues in CM and cancer research, treatment, and management, including potential mechanisms of action, proof of efficacy, adverse effects, regulatory issues, and the need for improving the quality of randomized clinical trials of CM treatments and supportive care interventions. Presented in these proceedings are some of the main issues and opportunities discussed by workshop participants.

Oxymatrine suppresses the growth and invasion of MG63 cells by up-regulating PTEN and promoting its nuclear translocation

Studies demonstrated that reduced PTEN levels are associated with poor prognoses of osteosarcoma. The nuclear localization of PTEN is important for its tumor suppressive function. Equally importantly, PTEN is the most significant negative regulator of PI3K/Akt signaling cascade, the constitutively activated pathway in osteosarcoma. In our study MG63 cells and U2OS cells were treated with the indicated concentrations of oxymatrine, in order to find the inhibition of oxymatrine to cells. We found the functions of oxymatrine on proliferation, apoptosis and invasion in cells. Oxymatrine could increase the expression of PTEN and promote its nuclear translocation in MG63 cells. In addition, oxymatrine could induce cell cycle arrest in G1 phase and apoptosis of MG63 cells. The migration and invasion potential of MG63 cells were also markedly inhibited by oxymatrine. Oxymatrine could suppress the growth and invasion of MG63 human osteosarcoma cells by up-regulating PTEN and promoting its nuclear translocation and inhibiting PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Oxymatrine inhibits proliferation of human bladder cancer T24 cells by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest

Oxymatrine has been shown to exert an antitumor effect on several types of cancer cells. However, the role of oxymatrine in bladder cancer has not yet been evaluated. The present study was designed to investigate the potential anti-proliferative effect of oxymatrine on bladder cancer T24 cells and the possible mechanisms involved. A 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay was used to determine cell growth, and the cell morphology was examined using hematoxylin and eosin staining, wrights' staining and electron microscopy. The caspase-3 and survivin mRNA and protein levels were assessed using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis, respectively. The expression of tumor protein p53 (p53), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) were analyzed using immunohistochemistry. Oxymatrine inhibited the proliferation of the T24 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Oxymatrine also induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in the cells, in association with the upregulation of caspase-3 and Bax, and the downregulation of survivin, Bcl-2 and p53 expression. Overall, oxymatrine inhibits the proliferation of human bladder cancer cells by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest via mechanisms that involve p53-Bax signaling and the downregulation of survivin expression.

Protective effects of oxymatrine against arsenic trioxide-induced liver injury

Oxymatrine, a quinolizidine natural drug extracted from Sophora japonica, has been reported to have neuroprotective effect and cardioprotective effect. However, the protective effect of oxymatrine on arsenic trioxide (As2O3)-induced liver injury has not been reported. In the present study, we investigated the protective effects of oxymatrine on As2O3-induced liver injury in rats. Male Wistar rats were administrated 3mg/kg As2O3 intravenous injection on alternate days for 4 days. Oxymatrine was given 1 h before As2O3 treatment. The results showed that oxymatrine inhibited As2O3-induced hepatic pathological damage, liver ROS level and MDA level in a dose-dependent manner. As2O3 decreased the antioxidant enzymes SOD, GPX, and CAT activity and the decrease was inhibited by treatment of oxymatrine. Furthermore, oxymatrine attenuated the retention of arsenic in liver tissues and improved the expression of Nrf2 and HO-1. In conclusion, our results suggested that oxymatrine protected against As2O3-induced oxidative damage by activating Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

Emerging Cytotoxic Alkaloids in the Battle against Cancer: Overview of Molecular Mechanisms

Considered as the second deadliest disease globally, cancer has captured the attention of researchers who have been trying with perseverance to decode its hidden aspects, to find new prognosis methods, and to develop better and more effective treatments. Plants have continuously offered an excess of unique secondary metabolites with remarkable biological applications. Alkaloids, one of the most abundant metabolites, constitute a large conglomerate of basic heterocyclic nitrogen-containing natural compounds which are normally produced by plants as toxic substances. Out of the 27,000 different alkaloids, more than 17,000 have displayed diversified pharmacological properties including anticancer activities. These metabolites have been classified either according to their chemical structures or their taxonomic origin. None of the researched alkaloids have been classified according to their molecular mechanism of action against cancer. In fact, only a fraction of the tremendous number of anticancer alkaloids has been copiously mentioned in journals. Here, we aim to provide a summary of the literature on some of the promising anticancer alkaloids that have not been well discussed previously and to classify them according to their molecular mechanisms of action. This review will provide a better understanding of the anticancer mechanisms of these promising natural products that are a rich reservoir for drug discovery.

HMGB1-mediated autophagy decreases sensitivity to oxymatrine in SW982 human synovial sarcoma cells

Oxymatrine (OMT) is a type of alkaloid extracted from a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, Sophora flavescens. Although the antitumor activities of OMT have been observed in various cancers, there are no reports regarding the effects of OMT on human synovial sarcoma. In the present study, we analyzed the antitumor activities of OMT in SW982 human synovial sarcoma cells and determine whether high mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1)-mediated autophagy was associated with its therapeutic effects. We found that OMT exhibited antitumor activity in SW982 cells and facilitated increases in autophagy. Inhibition of autophagy by 3-MA or ATG7 siRNA increased the level of apoptosis, which indicated that OMT-induced autophagy protected cells from the cytotoxicity of OMT. Administration of OMT to SW982 cells increased the expression of HMGB1. When HMGB1 was inhibited via HMGB1-siRNA, OMT-induced autophagy was decreased, and apoptosis was increased. Furthermore, we found that HMGB1-siRNA significantly increased the expression of p-Akt and p-mTOR. OMT-induced autophagy may be mediated by the Akt/mTOR pathway, and HMGB1 plays a vital role in the regulation of autophagy. Therefore, we believe that combining OMT with an inhibitor of autophagy or HMGB1 may make OMT more effective in the treatment of human synovial sarcoma.

Oxymatrine Inhibits Proliferation and Migration While Inducing Apoptosis in Human Glioblastoma Cells

Oxymatrine (OMT), an alkaloid derived from the traditional Chinese medicine herb Sophora flavescens Aiton, has been shown to exhibit anticancer properties on various types of cancer cells. In this study, we investigate the anticancer properties of OMT on human glioblastoma (GBM) cells and evaluate their underlying mechanisms. MTT assays were performed and demonstrated that OMT significantly inhibits the proliferation of GBM cells. Flow cytometry suggested that OMT at a concentration of 10^-5 M may induce apoptosis in U251 and A172 cells. Western blot analyses demonstrated a significant increase in the expression of Bax and caspase-3 and a significant decrease in expression of Bcl-2 in both U251 and A172 cells. Additionally, OMT was found by transwell and high-content screening assays to decrease the migratory ability of the evaluated GBM cells. These findings suggest that the antitumor effects of OMT may be the result of inhibition of cell proliferation and migration and the induction of apoptosis by regulating the expression of apoptosis-associated proteins. OMT may represent a novel anticancer therapy for the treatment of GBM.

Reduced apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease activity enhances the antitumor activity of oxymatrine in lung cancer cells

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and is associated with a very poor outcome. Oxymatrine exerts antitumor effects by inducing apoptosis and inhibiting the proliferation of different cancer cells; however, the anticancer effects and mechanism of action of oxymatrine have not been evaluated sufficiently in human lung cancer cells. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the anticancer effects of oxymatrine in human lung cancer cells and identify the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects. MTT assays demonstrated that oxymatrine significantly inhibited the proliferation of A549 and H1299 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. In addition, flow cytometry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling assays suggested that oxymatrine treatment may induce lung cancer cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, we detected that oxymatrine induced a significant increase in DNA damage and the expression of PARP and phosphorylated H2AX, and a significant decrease in that of nuclear APE1 and AP endonuclease activity in A549 cells. APE1 knockdown cells (APE1shRNA) plus oxymatrine treatment reduced cells proliferation and induced apoptosis more seriously than control shRNA cells. This appeared to be a consequence of an increase in the number of apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) sites, DNA damage, PARP and H2AX phosphorylation, which together resulted in the induction of apoptosis. In contrast, the sensitizing effects of APE1 overexpression plus oxymatrine treatment did not occur in APEOE cells. These findings reveal a potential mechanism of action for oxymatrine-induced apoptosis and suggest that oxymatrine is a promising potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of lung cancer.

The Anti-Cancer Effect of Polyphenols against Breast Cancer and Cancer Stem Cells: Molecular Mechanisms

The high incidence of breast cancer in developed and developing countries, and its correlation to cancer-related deaths, has prompted concerned scientists to discover novel alternatives to deal with this challenge. In this review, we will provide a brief overview of polyphenol structures and classifications, as well as on the carcinogenic process. The biology of breast cancer cells will also be discussed. The molecular mechanisms involved in the anti-cancer activities of numerous polyphenols, against a wide range of breast cancer cells, in vitro and in vivo, will be explained in detail. The interplay between autophagy and apoptosis in the anti-cancer activity of polyphenols will also be highlighted. In addition, the potential of polyphenols to target cancer stem cells (CSCs) via various mechanisms will be explained. Recently, the use of natural products as chemotherapeutics and chemopreventive drugs to overcome the side effects and resistance that arise from using chemical-based agents has garnered the attention of the scientific community. Polyphenol research is considered a promising field in the treatment and prevention of breast cancer.

Oxymatrine inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition through regulation of NF-κB signaling in colorectal cancer cells

Oxymatrine, a traditional Chinese herb extracted from Sophora flavescens Ait., displays strong anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities, but how oxymatrine exhibits anticarcinogenic effects in human colorectal cancer (CRC) remains uncertain. The present study aimed to elucidate the exact mechanism by which oxymatrine exhibits anticarcinogenic effects in CRC using the human colon cancer RKO cell line as the experimental model. CRC cells were treated with oxymatrine, and cell proliferation, migration and invasion were examined by colorimetric MTT, Transwell chamber and wound healing assays, respectively. In addition, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers and p65 were assessed by western blot analysis. Our study demonstrated that oxymatrine hindered the proliferation, migration and invasion of the CRC cells. Mechanistically, we found that oxymatrine modulated the expression of EMT markers including E-cadherin, Snail and N-cadherin, and reduced expression of p65 which is crucial to NF-κB activation. In conclusion, our results indicate that oxymatrine reduces the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway and inhibits CRC invasion by modulating EMT.

Cancer Stem Cells: The Potential Targets of Chinese Medicines and Their Active Compounds

The pivotal role of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in the initiation and progression of malignancies has been rigorously validated, and the specific methods for identifying and isolating the CSCs from the parental cancer population have also been rapidly developed in recent years. This review aims to provide an overview of recent research progress of Chinese medicines (CMs) and their active compounds in inhibiting tumor progression by targeting CSCs. A great deal of CMs and their active compounds, such as Antrodia camphorate, berberine, resveratrol, and curcumin have been shown to regress CSCs, in terms of reversing drug resistance, inducing cell death and inhibiting cell proliferation as well as metastasis. Furthermore, one of the active compounds in coptis, berbamine may inhibit tumor progression by modulating microRNAs to regulate CSCs. The underlying molecular mechanisms and related signaling pathways involved in these processes were also discussed and concluded in this paper. Overall, the use of CMs and their active compounds may be a promising therapeutic strategy to eradicate cancer by targeting CSCs. However, further studies are needed to clarify the potential of clinical application of CMs and their active compounds as complementary and alternative therapy in this field.

Potential Signaling Pathways Involved in the Clinical Application of Oxymatrine

Oxymatrine, an alkaloid component extracted from the roots of Sophora species, has been shown to have antiinflammatory, antifibrosis, and antitumor effects and the ability to protect against myocardial damage, etc. The potential signaling pathways involved in the clinical application of oxymatrine might include the TGF-β/Smad, toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells, toll-like receptor9/TRAF6, Janus kinase/signal transduction and activator of transcription, phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/Akt, delta-opioid receptor-arrestinl-Bcl-2, CD40, epidermal growth factor receptor, nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase-1 signaling pathways, and dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase/asymmetric dimethylarginine metabolism pathway. In this review, we summarize the recent investigations of the signaling pathways related to oxymatrine to provide clues and references for further studies on its clinical application. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A multicenter randomized controlled open-label trial to assess the efficacy of compound kushen injection in combination with single-agent chemotherapy in treatment of elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background

With the aging of the global population, an increasing number of elderly are diagnosed with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Although systematic chemotherapy has been one of the primary treatments for advanced non-small cell lung cancer worldwide, the elderly cannot always tolerate standard platinum-based doublet chemotherapy, thus resulting in treatment failure. To reduce toxicity, single-agent chemotherapy is often used to treat the elderly with non-small cell lung cancer; however, this may increase the risk of treatment failure due to an inadequate dose. It has been shown that compound kushen injection in combination with chemotherapy can enhance the efficacy and reduce the toxicity. The aim of this trial is to assess the clinical effectiveness and safety of compound kushen injection in combination with single-agent chemotherapy versus platinum-based doublet chemotherapy in the treatment of elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Methods

This multicenter study will be an open-label, randomized controlled trial. Three hundred seventy elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer will be randomly divided into experimental (n = 185) and control groups (n = 185) to receive compound kushen injection in combination with single-agent chemotherapy or standard platinum-based doublet chemotherapy for two cycles. After two cycles, the disease control rate, objective response rate, clinical symptoms, quality of life, Karnofsky Performance Status, and side effects will be assessed. Follow-up evaluations will be performed every 8 weeks to evaluate the progression-free and overall survival.

Discussion

Before the trial was designed, compound kushen injection was shown to be effective for lung cancer through basic experiments and clinical trials. This study will determine whether or not the efficacy of compound kushen injection in combination with single-agent chemotherapy is comparable to that of platinum-based doublet chemotherapy, and whether or not the toxicity of compound kushen injection in combination with single-agent chemotherapy is lower than that of platinum-based doublet chemotherapy.

Trial registration

ChiCTR-IPR-14005484 (16 November 2014).

Cancer stem cells and chemoresistance: The smartest survives the raid

Chemoresistant metastatic relapse of minimal residual disease plays a significant role for poor prognosis of cancer. Growing evidence supports a critical role of cancer stem cell (CSC) behind the mechanisms for this deadly disease. This review briefly introduces the basics of the conventional chemotherapies, updates the CSC theories, highlights the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which CSC smartly designs and utilizes multiple lines of self-defense to avoid being killed by chemotherapy, and concisely summarizes recent progress in studies on CSC-targeted therapies in the end, with the hope to help guide future research toward developing more effective therapeutic strategies to eradicate tumor cells in the patients.

Oxymatrine synergistically enhances the inhibitory effect of 5-fluorouracil on hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro and in vivo

Oxymatrine (OMT), one of the main active components of extracts from the dry roots of Sophora flavescens, has long been employed clinically to treat cancers. Here, we investigated the synergistic effect of OMT with 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) on the tumor growth inhibition of hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HCC; Hep-G2 and SMMC-7721) and explored the underlying mechanism. Cells were treated with OMT and/or 5-Fu and subjected to cell viability, colony formation, apoptosis, cell cycle, western blotting, xenograft tumorigenicity assay, and immunohistochemistry. OMT and 5-Fu inhibited the proliferation of Hep-G2 and SMMC-7721 cells, and combination treatment with OMT and 5-Fu resulted in a combination index <1, indicating a synergistic effect. Co-treatment with OMT and 5-Fu caused G0/G1 phase arrest by upregulating P21 and P27 and downregulating cyclin D, and induced apoptosis through increasing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreasing the levels of p-ERK. In addition, the inhibition of ROS respectively reversed the cell death induced by 5-Fu + OMT, suggesting the key roles of ROS in the process. More importantly, 5-Fu and OMT in combination exhibit much superior tumor weight and volume inhibition on SMMC-7721 xenograft mouse model in comparison to 5-Fu or OMT alone. Immunohistochemistry analysis suggests the combinations greatly suppressed tumor proliferation, which was consistent with our in vitro results. Taken together, our findings indicated that OMT sensitizes HCC to 5-Fu treatment by the suppression of ERK activation through the overproduction of ROS, and combination treatment with OMT and 5-Fu would be a promising therapeutic strategy for HCC treatment.

Oxymatrine and cancer therapy

Oxymatrine is a kind of alkaloid extracted from traditional Chinese herb Sophora flavescens Ait. It has been proved to exert various biological activities such as anti-angiogenesis, proliferation-inhibiting, apoptosis-promoting, analgesic-strengthening, and anti-metastasis. The biological activities are related with inhibition of angiogenesis-associated factors, regulation of related signaling pathway and protein expression, synergistic effects with chemotherapy drug, cell cycle arrest and inhibition of voltage-activated K+ channel. In this review, we summarize the recent investigations of oxymatrine in cancer therapy so as to provide references for further study and clinical therapy.

Oxymatrine suppresses proliferation and facilitates apoptosis of human ovarian cancer cells through upregulating microRNA‑29b and downregulating matrix metalloproteinase‑2 expression

Oxymatrine, an alkaloid extracted from medicinal plants of the genus Sophora, has a wide range of pharmacological effects. Previous studies have revealed that oxymatrine can inhibit proliferation and metastasis of tumor cells through reducing matrix metalloproteinase‑2 (MMP‑2) mRNA expression. However, the expression of MMP‑2 in ovarian cancer is significantly higher than that in normal ovaries. Furthermore, the expression of microRNA‑29b (miR‑29b) in ovarian carcinoma is significantly lower than that in normal ovaries. Therefore, MMP‑2 and miR‑29b are tumor suppressor factors involved in ovarian cancer. To evaluate the anti-cancer effects of oxymatrine the OVCAR‑3 ovary cancer cell line was treated with oxymatrine at the concentrations of 0, 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/ml. Assessment of the proliferation and apoptosis of OVCAR‑3 cells showed that oxymatrine had an inhibitory effect on ovarian cancer cells. Furthermore, oxymatrine decreased the protein levels of MMP‑2 and increased the expression levels of miR‑29b in OVCAR‑3 cells. Through transfection of miR‑29b precursor into OVCAR‑3 cells, it was demonstrated that miR‑29b regulated MMP‑2 expression in OVCAR‑3 cells. In addition, anti‑miR‑29b antibodies were used to verify that the apoptotic effect of oxymatrine was due to upregulating miR‑29b and downregulating MMP‑2 expression. These results showed that oxymatrine suppresses the proliferation and facilitates apoptosis of human ovarian cancer cells through upregulating miR‑29b and downregulating MMP‑2 expression.

Traditional Chinese medicine and cancer: History, present situation, and development

Cancer treatment with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a long history. Heritage provides general conditions for the innovation and development of TCM in oncology. This article reviews the development of TCM in oncology, interprets the position and function of TCM for cancer prevention and treatment, summarizes the innovations of TCM in oncology over nearly fifty years, and suggests the development direction.

Anti-tumor activities of active ingredients in Compound Kushen Injection

Kushen (Radix Sophorae Flavescentis) has a long history of use for the treatment of tumors, inflammation and other diseases in traditional Chinese medicine. Compound Kushen Injection (CKI) is a mixture of natural compounds extracted from Kushen and Baituling (Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae). The main principles of CKI are matrine (MT) and oxymatrine (OMT) that exhibit a variety of pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-viral, anti-fibrotic and cardiovascular protective effects. Recent evidence shows that these compounds also produce anti-cancer actions, such as inhibiting cancer cell proliferation, inducing cell cycle arrest, accelerating apoptosis, restraining angiogenesis, inducing cell differentiation, inhibiting cancer metastasis and invasion, reversing multidrug resistance, and preventing or reducing chemotherapy- and/or radiotherapy-induced toxicity when combined with chemotherapeutic drugs. In this review, we summarize recent progress in studying the anti-cancer activities of MT, OMT and CKI and their potential molecular targets, which provide clues and references for further study.

Effects of Oxymatrine on the Proliferation and Apoptosis of Human Hepatoma Carcinoma Cells

Oxymatrine, one of the main active components of extracts from the dry roots of Sophora flavescens, has been reported to possess anticancer activities in vitro and in vivo However, the precise mechanism involved remains largely unknown. The present study is conducted to investigate the anticancer activity and the underlying mechanisms of oxymatrine in human hepatoma cells (Hep-G2 and SMMC-7721) in vitro and in vivo Hep-G2 and SMMC-7721 cells were treated by oxymatrine and subjected to methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium analysis, Hoechst 33342 staining, annexin V/propidium iodide double staining, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot analysis. In addition, SMMC-7721 xenograft tumors were established in male nude BALB/c mice, and oxymatrine was intravenously administered to evaluate the anticancer capacity in vivo Our results showed that oxymatrine inhibited the proliferation and induced apoptosis of Hep-G2 and SMMC-7721 cells in a dose-dependent manner in vitro Furthermore, the RNA and protein expression of Bax and caspase 3 levels were significantly upregulated, whereas the expression of Bcl-2 was downregulated. These protein interactions may play a pivotal role in the regulation of proliferation and apoptosis. More importantly, our in vivo studies showed that administration of oxymatrine decreased tumor growth in a dose-dependent manner. Immunohistochemistry analysis demonstrated an increase of Bax and caspase 3 and a decrease of Bcl-2 in tumor tissues following oxymatrine treatment which are consistent with the in vitro results. Taken together, our findings indicated that oxymatrine can inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis of human hepatoma Hep-G2 and SMMC-7721 cells and might offer a therapeutic potential advantage for human hepatoma chemoprevention or chemotherapy.

Oxymatrine suppresses proliferation and induces apoptosis of hemangioma cells through inhibition of HIF-1a signaling

Oxymatrine (OMT), a natural quinolizidine alkaloid, has been known to have anti-inflammation, anti-anaphylaxis, and chemopreventive effects on various cancer cells. To clarify the underlying role and molecular mechanisms of OMT in human hemangioma (HA), in the present study, we examined the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1a (HIF-1a) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in different phases of human HA. After HA derived endothelial cells (HDEC) were pretreated with different concentrations of OMT, cell proliferation, apoptosis, and cycle distribution were evaluated by MTT assay and flow cytometry analysis, respectively. The effects of OMT on expression of HIF-1a signaling were determined by real-time PCR and western blot assays. Our results showed that, the expression of HIF-1a and VEGF was significantly increased in proliferating phase HA, but decreased in involuting phase HA. Moreover, OMT in vitro inhibited proliferative activities and induced cell apoptosis and cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase in HA cells with decreased expression of HIF-1a, VEGF, Bcl-2, and CyclinD1, and increased expression of p53. Taken together, our findings suggest that, the expression of HIF-1a and VEGF is increased in proliferating phase HA, and OMT suppresses cell proliferation and induces cell apoptosis and cycle arrest in proliferative phase HA through inhibition of the HIF-1a signaling pathway, suggesting OMT may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of HA.

Oxymatrine downregulates HPV16E7 expression and inhibits cell proliferation in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma Hep-2 cells in vitro

Objective. To investigate the possible mechanisms of oxymatrine's role in anti laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Methods. We examined the effects of oxymatrine on the proliferation, cell cycle phase distribution, apoptosis, and the protein and mRNA expression levels of HPV16E7 gene in laryngeal carcinoma Hep-2 cells in vitro. The HPV16E7 siRNA inhibition was also done to confirm the effect of downregulating HPV16E7 on the proliferation in Hep-2 cells. Results. Oxymatrine significantly inhibited the growth and proliferation of Hep-2 cells in a dose-dependence and time-dependence manner. Oxymatrine blocked Hep-2 cells in G0/G1 phase, resulting in an obvious accumulation of G0/G1 phase cells while decreasing S phase cells. Oxymatrine induced apoptosis of Hep-2 cells, whose apoptotic rate amounted to about 42% after treatment with 7 mg/mL oxymatrine for 72 h. Oxymatrine also downregulated the expression of HPV16E7 gene, as determined by the western blotting and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis. Knockdown of HPV16E7 effectively inhibited the proliferation of Hep-2 cells. Conclusions. Oxymatrine inhibits the proliferation and induces apoptosis of laryngeal carcinoma Hep-2 cells, which might be mediated by a significant cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase and downregulation of HPV16E7 gene. Oxymatrine is considered to be a likely preventive and curative candidate for laryngeal cancer.

Oxymatrine inhibits the proliferation of prostate cancer cells in vitro and in vivo

Oxymatrine is an alkaloid, which is derived from the traditional Chinese herb, Sophora flavescens Aiton. Oxymatrine has been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and anticancer properties. The present study aimed to investigate the anticancer effects of oxymatrine in human prostate cancer cells, and the underlying molecular mechanisms of these effects. An MTT assay demonstrated that oxymatrine significantly inhibited the proliferation of prostate cancer cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. In addition, flow cytometry and a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling assay suggested that oxymatrine treatment may induce prostate cancer cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, western blot analysis demonstrated a significant increase in the expression of p53 and bax, and a significant decrease in that of Bcl-2, in prostrate cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. In vivo analysis demonstrated that oxymatrine inhibited tumor growth following subcutaneous inoculation of prostate cancer cells into nude mice. The results of the present study suggested that the antitumor properties of oxymatrine, may be associated with the inhibition of cell proliferation, and induction of apoptosis, via the regulation of apoptosis-associated gene expression. Therefore, the results may provide a novel approach for the development of prostate cancer therapy using oxymatrine, which is derived from the traditional Chinese herb, Sophora flavescens.

Traditional Chinese medicine: a treasured natural resource of anticancer drug research and development

To discover and develop novel natural compounds, active ingredients, single herbs and combination formulas or prescriptions in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with therapeutic selectivity that can preferentially kill cancer cells and inhibit the amplification of cancer without significant toxicity is an important area in cancer therapy. A lot of valuable TCMs were applied as alternative or complementary medicines in the United States and Europe. But these TCMs, as one of the main natural resources, were widely used to research and develop new drugs in Asia. In TCMs, some specific herbs, animals, minerals and combination formulas were recorded and exploited due to their active ingredients and specific natural compounds with antitumor activities. The article focused on the antitumor properties of natural compounds and combination formulas or prescriptions in TCMs, described its influence on tumor progression, angiogenesis, metastasis, and revealed its mechanisms of antitumor and inhibitory action. Among the nature compounds, triptolide, berberine, matrine, oxymatrine, kurarinone and deoxypodophyllotoxin (DPT) with specific molecular structures have been separated, purified, and evaluated their antitumor properties in vitro and in vivo. Cancer is a multifactorial and multistep disease, so the treatment effect of combination formulas and prescriptions in TCMs involving multi-targets and multi-signal pathways on tumor may be superior than that of agents targeting a single molecular target alone. Shi Quan Da Bu Tang and Yanshu injection, as well known combination formulas and prescriptions in TCMs, have shown an excellent therapeutic effect on cancer.

Reversing paclitaxel resistance in ovarian cancer cells via inhibition of the ABCB1 expressing side population

The majority of deaths in ovarian cancer are caused by recurrent metastatic disease which is usually multidrug resistant. This progression has been hypothesised to be due in part to the presence of cancer stem cells, a subset of cells which are capable of self-renewal and are able to survive chemotherapy and migrate to distant sites. Side population (SP) cells, identified by the efflux of the DNA-binding dye Hoechst 33342 through ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, are a known adult stem cell group and have been suggested as a cancer stem cell in various cancers. Despite the identification of SP cells in cancer cell lines and patient samples, little attention has been paid to the identification of specific ABC transporters within this cell fraction which efflux Hoechst dye and thus may facilitate drug resistance. In this study, we demonstrate that SP cells can be detected in both ovarian cancer cell lines and ascitic fluid samples, and these SP cells possess stem cell and drug resistance properties. We show that ABCB1 is the functioning ABC transporter in ovarian cancer cell lines, and expression of ABCB1 is associated with a paclitaxel-resistant phenotype. Moreover, silencing of ABCB1 using a specific morpholino oligonucleotide results in an inhibition of the SP phenotype and a sensitising of ovarian cancer cell lines to paclitaxel. ABCB1 should therefore be considered as a therapeutic target in ovarian cancer.

Chemical approaches to targeting drug resistance in cancer stem cells

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subpopulation of cancer cells with high clonogenic capacity and ability to reform parental tumors upon transplantation. Resistance to therapy has been shown for several types of CSC and, therefore, they have been proposed as the cause of tumor relapse. Consequently, much effort has been made to design molecules that can target CSCs specifically and sensitize them to therapy. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms underlying CSC resistance, the potential biological targets to overcome resistance and the chemical compounds showing activity against different types of CSC. The chemical compounds discussed here have been divided according to their origin: natural, natural-derived and synthetic compounds.

Cisplatin-resistant cells in malignant pleural mesothelioma cell lines show ALDH(high)CD44(+) phenotype and sphere-forming capacity

Background

Conventional chemotherapy in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) has minimal impact on patient survival due to the supposed chemoresistance of cancer stem cells (CSCs). We sought to identify a sub-population of chemoresistant cells by using putative CSC markers, aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) and CD44 in three MPM cell lines; H28, H2052 and Meso4.

Methods

The Aldefluor assay was used to measure ALDH activity and sort ALDH^high and ALDH^low cells. Drug-resistance was evaluated by cell viability, anchorage-independent sphere formation, flow-cytometry and qRT-PCR analyses.

Results

The ALDH^high - and ALDH^low -sorted fractions were able to demonstrate phenotypic heterogeneity and generate spheres, the latter being less efficient, and both showed an association with CD44. Cis- diamminedichloroplatinum (II) (cisplatin) treatment failed to reduce ALDH activity and conferred only a short-term inhibition of sphere generation in both ALDH^high and ALDH^low fractions of the three MPM cell lines. Induction of drug sensitivity by an ALDH inhibitor, diethylaminobenzaldehyde (DEAB) resulted in significant reductions in cell viability but not a complete elimination of the sphere-forming cells, suggestive of the presence of a drug-resistant subpopulation. At the transcript level, the cisplatin + DEAB-resistant cells showed upregulated mRNA expression levels for ALDH1A2, ALDH1A3 isozymes and CD44 indicating the involvement of these markers in conferring chemoresistance in both ALDH^high and ALDH^low fractions of the three MPM cell lines.

Conclusions

Our study shows that ALDH^high CD44⁺ cells are implicated in conveying tolerance to cisplatin in the three MPM cell lines. The combined use of CD44 and ALDH widens the window for identification and targeting of a drug-resistant population which may improve the current treatment modalities in mesothelioma.

Oxymatrine induces mitochondria dependent apoptosis in human osteosarcoma MNNG/HOS cells through inhibition of PI3K/Akt pathway

The cytostatic drug from traditional Chinese medicinal herb has acted as a chemotherapeutic agent used in treatment of a wide variety of cancers. Oxymatrine, classified as a quinolizidine alkaloid, is a phytochemical product derived from Sophora flavescens, and has been reported to possess anticancer activities. However, the cancer growth inhibitory effects and molecular mechanisms in human osteosarcoma MNNG/HOS cell have not been well studied. In the present study, the cytotoxic effects of oxymatrine on MNNG/HOS cells were examined by MTT and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation assays. The percentage of apoptotic cells and the level of mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψ m) were assayed by flow cytometry. The levels of apoptosis-related proteins were measured by Western blot analysis or enzyme assay Kit. Our results showed that treatment with oxymatrine resulted in a significant inhibition of cell proliferation and DNA synthesis in a dose-dependent manner, which has been attributed to apoptosis. Furthermore, we found that oxymatrine considerably inhibited the expression of Bcl-2 whilst increasing that of Bax. This promoted mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria to the cytoplasm, as well as the activation of caspase-9 and -3. Moreover, addition of oxymatrine to MNNG/HOS cells also attenuated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) ⁄Akt signaling pathway cascade, evidenced by the dephosphorylation of P13K and Akt. Likewise, oxymatrine significantly suppressed tumor growth in female BALB/C nude mice bearing MNNG/HOS xenograft tumors. In addition, no evidence of drug-related toxicity was identified in the treated animals by comparing the body weight increase and mortality. Therefore, these findings should be useful for understanding the apoptotic cellular mechanism mediated by oxymatrine and might offer a therapeutic potential advantage for human osteosarcoma chemoprevention or chemotherapy.