OBJECTIVETo investigate effects of two kinds of anti-cancer bioactive peptide (ACBP) on proliferation and cell cycle in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma strain CNE.

METHODSCell culture was used in vitro, CNE cells were exposed to different concentration ACBP, in all groups, contrast groups were set up. And 24, 48, 72 hours later, growth characteristics of CNE cells were studied by morphological observation and MTT assay . Cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM).

RESULTSIn normal contrast group, CNE cells grew intensively and contacted with each other. However, cells which were treated with ACBP were inhibitory greatly in higher dose ACBP group, necrosis could be found. MTT assay showed that ACBP inhibited growth of CNE cell. FCM showed that ACBP (20.0 microg/ml) could raise cell ratio of S phase and induce apoptosis of CNE cells. CNE cells were treated by two kind of ACBP (5.0 microg/ml) for 24 h, FCM showed that early apoptosis rate were (11.8 +/- 0.3)% and (8.1 +/- 0.2)% respectively, which showed statistical significance in comparison with control group (t = 42.535, 47.300 respectively, P = 0.000). Under light microscope, some sings of cell apoptosis including coagulation of chromatin, fragmentation of nuclei and apoptotic body could be found.

CONCLUSIONSTwo kinds of ACBP inhibited human nasopharyngeal carcinoma strain CNE proliferation and arrested the cells to S phase, also induced the cells to apoptosis. Nasopharyngeal neoplasms;