Open Access

Apoptotic effect of gambogic acid in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells via suppression of the NF-κB pathway

  • Authors:
    • Wen‑Yue Liu
    • Xu Wu
    • Cheng‑Quan Liao
    • Jie Shen
    • Jun Li
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: April 14, 2016     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2016.4437
  • Pages: 3681-3685
  • Copyright: © Liu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Despite extensive investigations of therapeutic improvements for surgical techniques, chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains one of the most aggressive forms of cancer, and the prognosis for patients with advanced ESCC remains poor. Therefore, effective therapies are urgently required in order to improve the prognosis of patients with ESCC. TE‑1 cells were treated with gambogic acid (GA), and then subjected to western blot analysis, TUNEL assay and caspase activity analysis. GA significantly induced apoptosis in ESCC TE‑1 cells. In addition, the antitumor activity of GA was accompanied by the decreased expression of phosphorylated‑protein kinase B (p‑AKT) and nuclear factor of κ light polypeptide gene enhancer in B‑cells 1 (NF‑κB). The inhibition of protein kinase B (AKT) and NF‑κB activation by chemical inhibitors augmented the apoptotic effect responses to GA in the TE‑1 cells. The pan‑caspase inhibitor z‑VAD‑fmk (zVAD) decreased GA‑induced apoptosis. Furthermore, zVAD attenuated GA‑induced growth inhibition in TE‑1 cells. GA induced apoptosis in ESCC TE‑1 via suppression of NF‑κB pathway. The findings of the present study may provide a novel insight into ESCC treatment.
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June-2016
Volume 11 Issue 6

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
Online ISSN:1792-1082

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Spandidos Publications style
Liu WY, Wu X, Liao CQ, Shen J and Li J: Apoptotic effect of gambogic acid in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells via suppression of the NF-κB pathway. Oncol Lett 11: 3681-3685, 2016
APA
Liu, W., Wu, X., Liao, C., Shen, J., & Li, J. (2016). Apoptotic effect of gambogic acid in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells via suppression of the NF-κB pathway. Oncology Letters, 11, 3681-3685. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2016.4437
MLA
Liu, W., Wu, X., Liao, C., Shen, J., Li, J."Apoptotic effect of gambogic acid in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells via suppression of the NF-κB pathway". Oncology Letters 11.6 (2016): 3681-3685.
Chicago
Liu, W., Wu, X., Liao, C., Shen, J., Li, J."Apoptotic effect of gambogic acid in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells via suppression of the NF-κB pathway". Oncology Letters 11, no. 6 (2016): 3681-3685. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2016.4437