ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the molecular mechanism of isofebrifuzine in the treatment of esophageal cancer by observing the effects of isofebrifuzine on proliferation, apoptosis, cycle, energy metabolism and protein expression related to energy metabolism pathway in EC9706 cells. Methods: ECC9706 cells were routinely cultured, cell activity was detected by MTT method, drug concentration was screened, and two concentrations of 1 μg/mL and 2 μg/mL were selected, the effect of isofebrifuzine on apoptosis and cycle of esophageal cancer cells EC9706 was detected by flow cytometry. The effect of isofebrifuzine on energy metabolism of EC9706 cells was detected by energy metabolism detection system, and the protein expressions of mTOR, p-mTOR, p-ACC and AMPK in cells were detected by Western blotting. Results: The proliferation of EC9706 cells was effectively inhibited in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.01) after 48 h of treatment with different concentrations of isofebrifuzine, which could arrest EC9706 cells in S phase and G2/M phase (P < 0.05), effectively promote cell apoptosis (P < 0.05), and significantly inhibit cell glycolysis and mitochondrial metabolism (P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, AMPK expression was increased and mTOR, p-mTOR, p-ACC expression was decreased in the treatment group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: These results indicated that isofebrifuzine may regulate the cycle and apoptosis of EC9706 cells and inhibit the proliferation of EC9706 cells in esophageal cancer through energy metabolism.