Background:Cantharidin (CTD),a natural toxin produced from Chinese blister beetles,has extensive anti-tumor activity.The present study investigated the effect of CTD on a human colon cancer cell line to elucidate pote...Background:Cantharidin (CTD),a natural toxin produced from Chinese blister beetles,has extensive anti-tumor activity.The present study investigated the effect of CTD on a human colon cancer cell line to elucidate potential new insights regarding the mechanism(s) through which CTD exerts its anti-tumor effects.Materials and methods:The inhibitory effect of CTD on human colon cancer HCT116 cells was evaluated using the IncuCyte ZOOMTM analyzer.Apoptotic cells were detected by Annexin V-FITC/PI assay and cell cycle was evaluated with flow cytometry following propidium iodide staining.Alterations in F-actin microfilaments were analyzed by FITC-phalloidin staining and morphological changes were evaluated with a laser scanning confocal microscope.Cell migration assay was carried out to investigate the effects of CTD on migration of HCT116 cells in vitro.Results:CTD exhibited a significant growth inhibitory effect on HCT116 cells accompanied by an increase in G2/M phase cells,without a significant effect on apoptosis.CTD-treated cells also exhibited a dramatic collapse in their microfilament network and a significant reduction in cell adhesion.Conclusion:CTD inhibits growth by increasing G2/M phase cells and decreasing S phase cells,revealing that CTD exerts a significant growth inhibitory effect primarily through an inhibition of cell cycle progression (a cytostatic effect).Moreover,a negative effect on cell migration may also constitute a contributing factor to its anti-tumor potential.These findings suggest the potential use for developing CTD as a novel anti-cancer therapy that targets metastasis Giving full play to CTD may inhibit tumor transfer.展开更多
文摘Background:Cantharidin (CTD),a natural toxin produced from Chinese blister beetles,has extensive anti-tumor activity.The present study investigated the effect of CTD on a human colon cancer cell line to elucidate potential new insights regarding the mechanism(s) through which CTD exerts its anti-tumor effects.Materials and methods:The inhibitory effect of CTD on human colon cancer HCT116 cells was evaluated using the IncuCyte ZOOMTM analyzer.Apoptotic cells were detected by Annexin V-FITC/PI assay and cell cycle was evaluated with flow cytometry following propidium iodide staining.Alterations in F-actin microfilaments were analyzed by FITC-phalloidin staining and morphological changes were evaluated with a laser scanning confocal microscope.Cell migration assay was carried out to investigate the effects of CTD on migration of HCT116 cells in vitro.Results:CTD exhibited a significant growth inhibitory effect on HCT116 cells accompanied by an increase in G2/M phase cells,without a significant effect on apoptosis.CTD-treated cells also exhibited a dramatic collapse in their microfilament network and a significant reduction in cell adhesion.Conclusion:CTD inhibits growth by increasing G2/M phase cells and decreasing S phase cells,revealing that CTD exerts a significant growth inhibitory effect primarily through an inhibition of cell cycle progression (a cytostatic effect).Moreover,a negative effect on cell migration may also constitute a contributing factor to its anti-tumor potential.These findings suggest the potential use for developing CTD as a novel anti-cancer therapy that targets metastasis Giving full play to CTD may inhibit tumor transfer.