OBJECTIVETo investigate anticancer effects of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) combined with CL, extract of Rosa roxburghii Tratt on human endometrial adenocarcinoma cell line (JEC).

METHODSJEC cells cultured in vitro in the logarithmic growth phase were seeded in the culture plate and divided into the control group (RPMI 1640), the positive group (10(-4) mol/L 5-FU), the CL groups (at the dose of 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 microg/mL), and the CL (0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 microg/mL) combined with 5-FU groups. Effects of 5-FU combined with CL on JEC cell growth were drawn and measured by MTT and growth curves. Effects of CL combined with 5-FU on the JEC cell differentiation was analyzed by detecting the reduction capability of nitrobenzene thiocyanate (NBT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) contents in the cultured medium. Effects of CL combined with 5-FU on the JEC cell apoptosis and cell proliferation cycle were detected by acridine orange (AO)/ethidium bromide (EB) fluorescent staining and flow cytometry (FCM).

RESULTSThe proliferation inhibitory effect of CL combined with 5-FU on JEC cells was enhanced when compared with that of CL or 5-FU alone (P<0.05). The percentages of NBT positive JEC cells and apoptotic JEC cells increased in the 5-FU combined with CL groups when compared with 5-FU group or the CL group alone (P<0.05). The LDH concentration of the JEC cell culture supernate decreased in 5-FU combined with CL groups (P<0.05). Furthermore, the percentage of G0-G1 phase JEC cells treated by 5-FU combined with CL was higher than that of 5-FU or CL alone (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONCL could enhance anticancer effects of 5-FU. Its mechanisms might be correlated with reinforcing the cytotoxicity of 5-FU, inducing cell differentiation and apoptosis, and inhibiting cell proliferation and division.