ABSTRACT
AIM:To investigate the synergistic anti-proliferation effect of aspirin and 5-fluorouracil on the co-lon cancer cells and its mechanism .METHODS: Colon cancer cells were divided into 4 groups: control group , aspirin group, 5-fluorouracil group and aspirin +5-fluorouracil group .Synergistic anti-proliferation effect of aspirin and 5-fluoroura-cil on the colon cancer cells was observed by MTT assay .Apoptosis-inducing effect and mechanism were detected by Hoechst 33258 staining, caspase activity assay and flow cytometry analysis .The mRNA and protein levels of apoptosis-re-lated proteins were evaluated by real-time PCR and Western blotting .RESULTS:5-Fluorouracil inhibited proliferation of HCT116 and SW620 colon cancer cells effectively , and low concentration of aspirin exerted synergistic inhibitory effect .5-Fluorouracil induced apoptotic morphology and increased caspase activity and sub -G1 phase in HCT116 cells.The synergis-tic effect of aspirin obviously enhanced apoptotic ratio and caspase activity .Moreover , 5-fluorouracil inhibited the mRNA and protein expression of Bcl-2, which was amplified by low concentration of aspirin .CONCLUSION:Aspirin and 5-flu-orouracil had a synergistic anti-proliferation effect on the colon cancer cells through apoptosis pathway .