The anti-cancer effect of quercetin in renal cancer through regulating survivin expression and caspase 3 activity

Background: Traditional chemotherapy and radiotherapy are ineffective in the treatment of renal cancer. Quercetin exhibits a broad-,spectrum anti-cancer role with only minor side effects in the treatment of many tumors, but its efficacy in renal cancer treatment is presently unknown.Methods: Renal cancer ACHN cells were cultured and treated with quecertin at various dosages. Cell viability was tested by MTT assay. Flow cytometry measured cell apoptosis. Real time PCR and Western Blot measured survivin expression, and caspase 3 activity was also detected.Results: Quecertin significantly suppressed ACHN cell proliferation and induced early cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05). Quecertin significantly enhanced caspase 3 activity (p < 0.05), but downregulated survivin mRNA and protein expression (p < 0.05).