OBJECTIVETo investigate the anti-metastasis effect of emodin on the pancreatic cancer in vitro and in vivo.

METHODHuman pancreatic cancer cell line SW1990 was treated with different concentrations of emodin (10, 20, 40 micromol x L(-1)) for 2 h, the effects of emodin on the migration and invasion of SW1990 cells were examined by using wound assay and matrigel counting. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of NF-kappaB and MMP-9 in SW1990 cells after various concentrations of emodin (10, 20, 40 micromol x L(-1)) treatment for 48 h. Metastatic model simulating human pancreatic cancer was established by orthotropic implantation of histologically intact human tumor tissue into pancreatic wall of nude mice, and then divided into three groups: control group, low-dose emodin group (L-EMO) and high-dose emodin group (H-EMO). Eight weeks after implantation, the presences of metastasis were evaluated respectively after the mice were sacrificed. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the positive expression of CD34, NF-kappaB and MMP-9 in the tumors.

RESULTEmodin suppressed the migration and invasion of SW1990 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Western bolt assay indicated that emodin down-regulated the expression of NF-kappaB and MMP-9 proteins in SW1990 cells. The incidences of metastasis were decreased significantly in L-EMO group and H-EMO group as compared with that in control group. The percentage of CD34, NF-kappaB and MMP-9-positive cells in the tumors were significantly reduced by the administration of emodin.

CONCLUSIONEmodin exerts anti-metastatic activity in pancreatic cancer both in vitro and in vivo, which may be related to down-regulation of NF-kappaB and MMP-9.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Emodin ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; analysis ; Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; NF-kappa B ; analysis ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; prevention & control ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; blood supply ; drug therapy ; pathology

Objective:To study the antitumor activity of zeylenone in colorectal cancer and its related regulatory mechanism.Methods:Human colorectal cancer cells(DLD-1 and HCT116)and control cell(HcoEpic)were treated with different concentrations of zeylenone(0,2.5,5,10 and 20 μmol/L)for 48 h.Cell viability of DLD-1,HCT116 and HcoEpic were determined by CCK-8 kit.TUNEL staining was used to evaluate cell apoptosis.Caspase-3 activity and LDH level were measured by ELISA.Relative levels of M1 and M2 polarization markers,p-PI3K/PI3K and p-AKT/AKT were detected by Western blot and qRT-PCR.DLD-1 cells were subcuta-neously injected into the armpit of nude mice to establish a mouse xenograft tumor model.Intraperitoneal dose of zeylenone given to nude mice was 30 mg/kg,administered once every two days.After 2 weeks,the effect of zeylenone on growth of colorectal cancer tumors was detected.Results:Zeylenone inhibited cell activity and promoted cell apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells.Additionally,zeylenone stimulated M1-polarization and inhibited M2-polarization of tumor-associated macrophages(P<0.05).PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was inhibited by zeylenone in colorectal cancer cells(P<0.05).PI3K/AKT signaling pathway activator(740 Y-P)attenuated the effect of zeylenone on colorectal cancer cells.In mouse xenograft model,zeylenone inhibited the growth of colorectal cancer tumors(P<0.05).Conclusion:Zeylenone can inhibit colorectal cancer cell activity,promote colorectal cancer cell apoptosis,and promote M1 po-larization of tumor-associated macrophages by regulating PI3K/AKT signaling pathway,ultimately inhibiting the progression of colorec-tal cancer.