Inhibiting effects of aspirin on the growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma / 中华肝脏病杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the effects of aspirin on the proliferation and apoptosis of human HCC cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The effects of aspirin on the synthesis of DNA in SMMC-7721 HCC cells were determined by using (3)H-thymidine incorporation. Apoptosis of SMMC-7721 was studied by observation of morphologic changes, Tunnel method and flow cytometry after treatment with aspirin. We also assessed the effects of aspirin on the growth of HCC xenografts in nude mice in vivo.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A dose-dependent suppression (r=-0.918, P<0.01) of (3)H-TdR incorporation in HCC cell line treated with aspirin was observed in the concentration range of 1 10(-1)~10(-7)mol/L. The mean tumor volume and weight in nude mice treated with aspirin were significantly lower than those of the control group. The inhibiting rate for HCC xenografts was 71.62% in the aspirin group. After exposure to aspirin (31 10(-3)mol/L) for 48 hours, HCC cells presented some morphologic features of apoptosis. The apoptosis index was markedly higher in the aspirin group (8.90% 1.32%) than in the control group (0.50% 0.35%, P<0.01). A typical subdiploid peak before G0/G1 phase with an apoptosis rate as 12.79% was also observed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Aspirin inhibits the proliferation and increases the apoptosis of human HCC cells not only in vitro but also in vivo.</p>