The Growth Inhibition Of Gambogic Acid On Human Bladder Cancer Cell Line

BackgroundTCM holds that pathogenesis and development of carcinomata are related to failure of natural apoptosis of cancer cells. Modern TCM has found that regulation of the relationship between healthy and pathogenic factors can induce apoptosis of cancer cells. Carcinomata are often characterized by overexpression of some oncogenes and inhibition of expression of some cancer suppressor genes. As a result, Western clinicians and pharmacologists are studying and performing so-called "gene therapy". Modern TCM has found that treatments according to the imbalance of the relationship between healthy and pathogenic factors have regulatory effects on expression of oncogenes and cancer suppressor genes. Bladder cancer is one of the most common multiple and refractory malignant tumors of the urinary system with a high postoperative recurrence rate, remaining a threat to human health and life. In recent years, roles of TCM in anti-tumor effect have been well studied, and more and more Chinese herbs and their preparations have been used in the treatment of carcinomata. Gamboge is dry resin secreted by Garcinia cambogia. It is cylindrical or irregular yellowish-brown fragile mass. Ggambogic acid (GA) is one of the most important active ingredients in the gamboge, with multiple biological functions including good anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, antiviral and anti-infective effects. Moreover, its good anti-tumor effects in vitro and in vivo can suppress the growth of multiple tumor cells and induce their apoptosis. More studies have shown that Ggambogic acid can suppress the growth of multiple tumor cells, including gastric carcinoma, hepatoma, hematologic neoplasms and breast carcinoma, but there has been little report about its effect in urologic neoplasms. ObjectiveIn this study we aim to explore whether the gambogic acid could inhibit cell growth and induce apoptosis in the BIU-87human bladder cancer cells in vitro by the detections of MTT and flow cytometry (FCM) analysis. Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry.Methods(1) Gambogic acid were co-cultured with the BIU-87human bladder cancer cells and determined the antiproliferative activities by MTT assay.(2) The expression of caspase-3was detected by immunohistochemical S-P method.(3) Gambogic acid were co-cultured with the BIU-87human bladder cancer cells and the percentage of apoptosis were determined by flow cytometry (FCM) analysis.Results(1) After treated with gambogic acid for24h and48h, the proliferation of BIU-87human bladder cancer cells was significant suppressed in a dose dependent manner which was determined by MTT assay.(2) Caspase-3which was examined by the immunohistochemical method for control group,1.0μmol/L group,2.0μmol/L group and3.0μmol/L group the IHS was:2.13±1.27、4.28±1.86、5.03±0.78、6.47±1.31.The differences among groups have statistical significance.(3) The FCM assay indicated that after treated with gambogic acid for24h and48h, each groups of gambogic acid leads to a significant higher percentage of apoptosis of BIU-87human bladder cancer cells than control groups; G0/G1period cells reduced while the amount of G2/M period cells increased, and S period cells remained the same amount.Conclusion(1) Gambogic acid could inhibit the proliferation of BIU-87human bladder cancer cells in a dose and time dependent manner. (2) Gambogic acid has the potential to improve the caspase-3expression.(3) Gambogic acid could induce BIU-87human bladder cancer cells apoptosis in a dose and time dependent manner.