Suppression of esophageal cancer cell growth using curcumin,(-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate and lovastatin

AIM:To determine the effects of curcumin,(-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG),lovastatin,and their combinations on inhibition of esophageal cancer.METHODS:Esophageal cancer TE-8 and SKGT-4 cell lines were subjected to cell viability methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium and tumor cell invasion assays in vitro and tumor formation and growth in nude mouse xenografts with or without curcumin,EGCG and lovastatin treatment.Gene expression was detected using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting in tumor cell lines,tumor xenografts and human esophageal cancer tissues,respectively.RESULTS:These drugs individually or in combinations significantly reduced the viability and invasion capacity of esophageal cancer cells in vitro.Molecularly,these three agents reduced the expression of phosphorylated extracellular-signal-regulated kinases (Erk1/2),c-Jun and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2),but activated caspase 3 in esophageal cancer cells.The nude mouse xenograft assay showed that EGCG and the combinations of curcumin,EGCG and lovastatin suppressed esophageal cancer cell growth and reduced the expression of Ki67,phosphorylated Erk1/2 and COX-2.The expression of phosphorylated Erk1/2 and COX-2 in esophageal cancer tissue specimens was also analyzed using immunohistochemistry.The data demonstrated that 77 of 156 (49.4%) tumors expressed phosphorylated Erk1/2 and that 121 of 156 (77.6%) esophageal cancers expressed COX-2 protein.In particular,phosphorylated Erk1/2 was expressed in 23 of 50 (46%) cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and in 54 of 106 (50.9%) cases of adenocarcinoma,while COX-2 was expressed in 39 of 50 (78%) esophageal SCC and in 82 of 106 (77.4%) esophageal adenocarcinoma.CONCLUSION:The combinations of curcumin,EGCG and lovastatin were able to suppress esophageal cancer cell growth in vitro and in nude mouse xenografts,these drugs also inhibited phosphorylated Erk1/2,c-Jun and COX-2 expression.

Exhumation history of the Huangshan granite pluton,southern Anhui Province:New insights from fission-track analysis

The dating of the uplift onset of the Huangshan pluton in the southern part of Anhui Province associated with the collision between paleo-Pacific Block and the Eurasian Block is a fundamental issue to better understand the uplift mechanisms and the regional tectonic evolution. Х^2 values of seven zircon fission track （ZFF） samples collected from the south part of the Huangshan pluton were all 〈5%. Based on the grain ages of four typical ZFr samples, three thermal overprints ranging in 113-123, 72-95 and 49-66 Ma were distinguished respectively using the binomial peak-fitting method in accordance with the tectonic thermal events after south China shifted into circum-Pacific tectonic region. Apatite fission track （AFT） study of the Huangshan pluton shows ages lie between 15±3 and 56±6 Ma with all Х^2 values 〉5%, and all are significantly younger than their host rock formation ages, indicating that the samples have experienced post-formation thermal history. Based on the AFT resuits and topography characteristics in the Huangshan pluton, three zones with different denudation intensities caused by the differential uplift of the fault blocks were recognized in this paper, indicating that denudation was driven by the increase in elevation significantly. Modeling of the AFT data shows that the earlier cooling phase took place in the early Cenozoic and involved 3.3, 3.8 and 6.0℃/Ma of cooling rates equivalent to the exhumation rates of 90, 104 and 167 m/Ma in different fault blocks. The last phase of cooling took place from -10 Ma with average cooling rate of -5.6℃/Ma, equivalent to average denudation rates of -156 m/Ma. The fission track results imply that the regional compression field plays an important role for the differential exhumation between individual fault blocks of the Huangshan pluton.

The uplifting and denudation of main Huangshan Mountains,Anhui Province,China

The Huangshan Mountain Geopark is an important geological landmark and tourist attraction.In this paper,we apply fission track dating to examine the uplift and exhumation processes that created the Huangshan Mountains and provide a timeline for their development.In addition to being an important scientific contribution,this information can be used on guided tours and to promote tourism.The results of eight apatite fission-track analyses suggest three age groups:56,45-30,and 15 Ma.These age groups are related to the uplifting-erosion processes involved in forming ancient multilevel denudation planes at 85-50,45-30,and 24-5 Ma,respectively.The scenic area has experienced three stages of thermal evolution.The first stage occurred before 80 Ma and the third stage after 13 Ma.The three stages had varying cooling rates:2.69,0.62,and 4.23°C/Ma,respectively.Uplifting rates also varied:0.08,0.02,and 0.12 mm/a.The uplifting ranges were also variable:1.14,1.57,and 4.00 km,respectively.Significant uplifting differences between diverse areas are obvious and there were four magnitudes of cumulative uplifting range:4060-3950,3760-3490,3190-3070,and 2650 m.The surface uplifting range varied from 450 to 2230 m.Denudation and uplifting amount averaged 2340 and 3400 m,respectively.The 1060 m difference between them is the average elevation at present.