ABSTRACT
AIMS: To investigate the effects of sevoflurane on proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, autophagy, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of colon cancer cell line SW480, and to explore its possible mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: SW480 and SW620â¯cells were treated with a mixture of 95% O2+5% CO2 containing different concentrations of sevoflurane (1.7% SAV, 3.4% SAV and 5.1% SAV) for 6â¯h. Meanwhile, we performed a rescue experiment by treating cells with the ERK pathway activator LM22B-10 prior to treatment of cells with 5.1% sevofluraneã KEY FINDINGS: High concentration (5.1%) of sevoflurane significantly inhibited the proliferation and invasion of cells, causing G0/G1 phase arrest and promoted apoptosis and autophagy. 5.1% sevoflurane can participate in the regulation of EMT by regulating the expression of E-cadherin, Vimentin and N-cadherin proteins. LM22B-10 promoted proliferation and invasion of cancer cells and inhibited apoptosis and autophagy, while 5.1% sevoflurane could reverse the effect of LM22B-10 on the biological characteristics of cells. Sevoflurane can significantly inhibit tumor growth in SW480â¯cells transplanted nude mice. Moreover, 5.1% sevoflurane significantly increased the expression of p-Raf, p-MEK1/2, and p-ERK1/2 in SW480â¯cells and tumor tissues without affecting p-JNK and p-p38 proteins, meanwhile, 5.1% sevoflurane can inhibit the activation of ERK signaling pathway by LM22B-10 in vitro and in vivo. SIGNIFICANCE: Sevoflurane can inhibit the proliferation and invasion of colon cancer cells, induce apoptosis and autophagy, and participate in the regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, which may be related to its inhibition of the ERK signaling pathway.
