ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of ampelopsin on B16 melanoma's invasion and metastasis in vivo and in vitro.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>B16 mouse melanoma cells were injected into C57BL/6 mouse via tail lateral vein, which subsequently colonized into the animal lungs to form an experimental pulmonary metastasis of tumor cell. The ampelopsin was administered at 3 dosages by intraperitoneal injection daily for 18 days from the day before the cells injection. The B16 mouse melanoma cells were exposed to ampelopsin for 3 days. The effects of ampelopsin on invasion, migration and adhesion of B16 melanoma cells were evaluated with Transwell chambers or attachment with polycarbonate filters and reconstituted basement membrane (Matrigel).</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The number of metastases in the animals that were given ampelopsin 150, 200, and 250 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) was significantly reduced as compared to the vehicle control (P<0.05), and the inhibition rates were 30.97%, 40.58%, and 61.16%, respectively. The ability of the ampelopsin treated B16 cells to invade the reconstituted basement membrane was decreased significantly (P<0.01), and the inhibition rates were 36.06%, 59.58%, and 79.09% at 20 micromol x L(-1), 40 micromol x L(-1) and 80 micromol x L(-1) concentration, respectively. Ampelopsin could also inhibit B16 cells migration through PVPF in the Transwell chambers, and the inhibition rates were 51.59%, 56.51%, and 66.75% at 20 micromol x L(-1), 40 micromol x L(-1) and 80 micromol x L(-1), respectively (P<0.01). The ability of adhesion of the B16 cells by ampelopsin treated cells on fibronectin, laminin, or Matrigel was decreased significantly.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Ampelopsin has anti-invasive and anti-metastatic effects on B16 melanoma.</p>