n/a
Article Publish Status: FREE
Abstract Title:

β-elemene effectively suppresses the growth and survival of both platinum-sensitive and -resistant ovarian tumor cells.

Abstract Source:

Anticancer Res. 2012 Aug ;32(8):3103-13. PMID: 22843880

Abstract Author(s):

Rebecca X Lee, Qingdi Quentin Li, Eddie Reed

Article Affiliation:

Rebecca X Lee

Abstract:

The development of cisplatin drug resistance remains a chief concern in ovarian cancer chemotherapy.β-Elemene is a natural plant product with broad-spectrum antitumor activity towards many types of carcinomas. This study aimed to define the biological and therapeutic significance of β-elemene in chemoresistant ovarian cancer. In the present study, β-elemene significantly inhibited cell growth and proliferation of both the cisplatin-sensitive human ovarian cancer cell line A2780 and its cisplatin-resistant counterpart A2780/CP. β-Elemene also suppressed the growth of several other chemosensitive and chemoresistant ovarian cancer cell lines, including ES-2, MCAS, OVCAR-3, and SKOV-3, withthe half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) values ranging from 54 to 78 μg/ml. In contrast, the IC(50) values of β-elemene for the human ovarian epithelial cell lines IOSE-386 and IOSE-397 were 110 and 114 μg/ml, respectively, which are almost two-fold those for the ovarian cancer cell lines. Cell cycle analysis demonstrated that β-elemene induced a persistent block of cell cycle progression at the G(2)/M phase in A2780 and A2780/CP cells. This was mediated by alterations in cyclin and cyclin-dependent kinase expression, including the down-regulation of CDC2, cyclin A, and cyclin B1, and the up-regulation of p21(WAF1/CIP1) and p53 proteins. Moreover, β-elemene triggered apoptosis and irreversible cell death in both sensitive and resistant ovarian cancer cells via the activation of caspase-3, -8 and 9; the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (δΨm); the release of cytochrome c into the cytosol; and changes in the expression of BCL-2 family proteins. All of these molecular changes were associated with β-elemene-induced growth inhibition and cell death of ovarian cancer cells. Our results demonstrate that β-elemene has antitumor activity against both platinum-sensitive and resistant ovarian cancer cells, and thus has the potential for development as a chemotherapeutic agent for cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer.

Print Options


This website is for information purposes only. By providing the information contained herein we are not diagnosing, treating, curing, mitigating, or preventing any type of disease or medical condition. Before beginning any type of natural, integrative or conventional treatment regimen, it is advisable to seek the advice of a licensed healthcare professional.

© Copyright 2008-2024 GreenMedInfo.com, Journal Articles copyright of original owners, MeSH copyright NLM.