Effect of SPPW on the invasive and metastatic capacities of human gastric cancer cells / 中国中西医结合杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To clarify the action and possible mechanisms of SPPW, a Chinese herbal preparation consisting of Herba Scutellariae Barbatae, Radix Astragalus, Radix Glycyrrhizae, etc., in suppressing the metastasis of human gastric cancer, by way of observing its effect on the invasive and metastatic capacities of gastric cancer cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In vitro serial sub-cultured human gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901 at the logarithmic growth phase were randomly divided into 5 groups, i.e. the negative control group, the 4 treatment groups intervened respectively with SPPW at three different doses (high, middle, and low), and 5-FU. The adhesion capacities of gastric cancer cells to matrigel were detected by MTT assay 48 h after intervention. The invasive and migratory capacities of gastric cancer cells were determined by Transwell assay. The mRNA and protein expressions of metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in gastric cancer cells were detected by Western blot and Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the negative control group, the adhesive, invasive and migratory capacities of gastric cancer cells were all significantly inhibited in the four treatment groups (P<0.05, P<0.01). In addition, the protein and mRNA expressions of MMP-9 and VEGF were down-regulated (P<0.01). Significant dose-dependent relation existed in the three SPPW treatment groups (P<0.01). Compared with the 5-FU treatment group, the high dose SPPW treatment group showed significant difference in inhibiting the adhesive and metastatic capacities of gastric cancer cells, lowering VEGF protein expression, and mRNA expressions of MMP-9 and VEGF (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>SPPW could lower the adhesion of gastric cancer cells to matrigel, and lower the invasion and migration of gastric cancer cells. Meanwhile, it could down-regulate the mRNA and protein expressions of MMP-9 and VEGF, which may possibly be one of its mechanisms for influencing the invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer cells.</p>