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Taspine has been indicated to be a potential anti-carcinogenic agent. The present study investigated the effects of TAS9, a modified taspine derivative, on the proliferation and migration of the SMMC-7721 human liver cancer cell line. First, the effects of TAS9 on SMMC-7721 cell growth were examined using MTT and colony formation assaya. In vivo Transwell and wound healing assays were then performed to assess the inhibitory effects of TAS9 on cell invasion and migration, respectively. The expression of cell proliferation- and migration-associated signaling molecules was investigated by western blot analysis. The results indicated that TAS9 inhibited SMMC-7721 cell growth by downregulating the signaling molecules protein kinase Cβ (PKCβ), Akt, mammalian target of rapamycin, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 2, RAF and c-Jun N-terminal kinase-1, and inhibiting SMMC-7721 cell migration by suppressing the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9, chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor 4, nuclear factor κB, p38 and p53. Small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of PKCβ in the SMMC-7721 cells significantly attenuated the tumor inhibitory effects of TAS9. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggested that TAS9 may have inhibitory effects on the proliferation and migration of SMMC-7721 cells, and may serve as a potential candidate for cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eupolyphaga sinensis Walker has been reported to have anticoagulation, antithrombotic, liver protective and antitumor effects. In the present study, the inhibitory effects on proliferation of A549 human non-small cell lung cancer cells and the underlying mechanisms were examined. Firstly, three solvents, 70% ethanol, distilled water and 95% ethanol, were used to extract Eupolyphaga sinensis Walker. The MTT assay results demonstrated that the 70% ethanol extract more potently reduced the growth of A549 cells and it was therefore adopted in the subsequent experiments. Eupolyphaga sinensis Walker 70% ethanol extract significantly inhibited A549 cell migration in a time- and dose-dependent manner and inhibited human umbilical vein endothelial cell proliferation, migration and tube formation. Furthermore, Eupolyphaga sinensis Walker 70% ethanol extract effectively inhibited blood vessel formation in the established tissue model for angiogenesis. In addition, Eupolyphaga sinensis Walker 70% ethanol extract was demonstrated to inhibit the autophosphorylation of KDR, and downregulate the subsequent activation of AKT and extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 in A549 cells. In conclusion, these findings demonstrated that the antitumor mechanism of Eupolyphaga sinensis Walker 70% ethanol extract was through inhibiting angiogenesis. It functioned by interrupting the autophosphorylation of KDR and subsequently, AKT and ERK1/2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumor growth and metastasis are responsible for most cancer patients' deaths. Here, we report that eupolyphaga sinensis walker has an essential role in resisting hepatocellular carcinoma growth and metastasis. Compared with proliferation, colony formation, transwell assay and transplantable tumor in nude mouse in vitro and vivo, eupolyphaga sinensis walker extract (ESWE) showed good inhibition on the SMMC-7721 cell growth and metastasis. Using genome-wide microarray analysis, we found the down-regulated growth and metastasis factors, and selected down-regulated genes were confirmed by real-time PCR. Knockdown of a checkpoint PKCb by siRNA significantly attenuated tumor inhibition and metastasis effects of ESWE. Moreover, our results indicate ESWE inhibits HCC growth by not only downregulating the signaling of PKCβ, Akt, m-TOR, Erk1/2, MEK-2, Raf and JNK-1, but also increasing cyclin D1 protein levels and decreasing amount of cyclin E, cyclin B1 and cdc2 of the cycle proteins. At the same time, ESWE reduced MMP2, MMP9 and CXCR4, PLG, NFkB and P53 activities. Overall, our studies demonstrate thatESWE is a key factor in growth and metastasis signaling inhibitor targeting the PKC, AKT, MAPK signaling and related metastasis signaling, having potential in cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel tissue model for angiogenesis (TMA) is established for effective evaluation of angiogenesis inhibitors or promoters in vitro. Lung tissues were cultured in fibrinogen ''sandwich'' structure which resembled the formation of neovessels in vivo. The cells and capillary-like structures grew from the lung tissues were identified as endothelial cells and neovessels. Both immunohistochemisty and western blot results indicated that autocrine VEGF bound to the KDRand induced KDR autophosphorylation that could induce the proliferation of endothelial cells and their migration as well as the formation of microvessels on the lung tissue edge. With addition of the TMA, the murine VEGF and cultured medium produced by A549 tumor cells apparently promoted the increase of neovessels. Sorafenib as a tumor angiogenesis inhibitor and Tongxinluo as an angiogenesis promoter were both used to evaluate the TMA performance and they exhibited a good effect on neovessels in the TMA. The model established imitated angiogenesis in vivo and could well serve as an effective method in evaluating the angiogenesis inhibitors or promoters, and could also be practical for screening small molecules that affect blood vessel formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]