phenanthrenes and Tongue-Neoplasms

Cryptotanshinone, a natural compound isolated from the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge (Danshen), has been found to induce cancer cells apoptosis and impair cell migration and invasion in various malignancies, but its antiproliferation and chemosensitization effects of Cryptotanshinone on tongue squamous cell carcinoma(TSCC)still remain fully elucidated. In this study, the effects of Cryptotanshinone on the proliferation, apoptosis and cell cycle of human TSCC cells, including CAL 27 and SCC 9 cells, were measured. The results demonstrated that Cryptotanshinone dose-dependently inhibited cell migration and proliferation, and induced apoptosis in TSCC cells. Mechanistic study revealed that Cryptotanshinone suppressed the expression of p-STAT3, Bcl-2, CDK2, Snail and MMP2, and induced the expression of E-cadherin, P53, P21 and β-catenin. Furthermore, we found that the combination treatment of Cryptotanshinone and paclitaxel more effectively inhibited TSCC cell proliferation and migration, and induced apoptosis via the inhibition of STAT3 signaling pathway. In brief, we provided the new evidence that Cryptotanshinone could enhance the efficacy of paclitaxel on TSCC cells in vitro and demonstrated that STAT3 signaling pathway played an important role in Cryptotanshinone-induced anticancer effects in human TSCC.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Cell Cycle Checkpoints; Cell Movement; Cell Proliferation; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; Humans; Janus Kinases; Models, Biological; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Paclitaxel; Phenanthrenes; Signal Transduction; STAT3 Transcription Factor; Tongue Neoplasms

Advanced oral cancer has a poor prognosis because of the lack of an effective treatment. We explored the efficiency of combined treatment with triptolide and ionizing radiation for treating oral cancer. Human tongue cancer cells were treated with triptolide, ionizing radiation, or triptolide plus ionizing radiation. Cell proliferation, cell cycle arrest, and apoptotic influences were analyzed by FACS and immunohistochemistry. Tumor potency was examined in an in vivo human tongue cancer cells xenograft mouse model. Our results demonstrated that triptolide caused a marked reduction in colony number that was further enhanced with increasing doses of ionizing radiation. Triptolide increased apoptosis and decreased the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins. In vivo, combination treatment synergistically reduced tumor weight and volume possibly via the induction of apoptosis and reduction in anti-apoptotic protein expression. In conclusion, triptolide plus ionizing radiation treatment had synergistic anti-tumor effects, especially in vivo, and may be a promising combined modality therapy for advanced oral cancer.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Apoptosis; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Cell Line, Tumor; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; Diterpenes; Epoxy Compounds; Humans; Mice; Phenanthrenes; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Tongue; Tongue Neoplasms; Tripterygium; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays