Aspirin induces apoptosis in vitro and inhibits tumor growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in a nude mouse xenograft model

  • Authors:
    • Mohammad Akbar Hossain
    • Dong Hwan Kim
    • Jung Yoon Jang
    • Yong Jung Kang
    • Jeong-Hyun Yoon
    • Jeon-Ok Moon
    • Hae Young Chung
    • Gi-Young Kim
    • Yung Hyun Choi
    • Bryan L. Copple
    • Nam Deuk Kim
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: December 15, 2011     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2011.1304
  • Pages: 1298-1304
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Abstract

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are known to induce apoptosis in a variety of cancer cells, including colon, prostate, breast and leukemia. Among them, aspirin, a classical NSAID, shows promise in cancer therapy in certain types of cancers. We hypothesized that aspirin might affect the growth of liver cancer cells since liver is the principal site for aspirin metabolism. Therefore, we investigated the effects of aspirin on the HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line in vitro and the HepG2 cell xenograft model in BALB/c nude mice. We found that treatment with aspirin inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis involving both extrinsic and intrinsic pathways as measured by DNA ladder formation, alteration in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, activation of the caspase activities and related protein expressions. In vivo antitumor activity assay also showed that aspirin resulted in significant tumor growth inhibition compared to the control. Oral administration of aspirin (100 mg/kg/day) caused a significant reduction in the growth of HepG2 tumors in nude mice. These findings suggest that aspirin may be used as a promising anticancer agent against liver cancer.
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April 2012
Volume 40 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1019-6439
Online ISSN:1791-2423

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Spandidos Publications style
Hossain MA, Kim DH, Jang JY, Kang YJ, Yoon J, Moon J, Chung HY, Kim G, Choi YH, Copple BL, Copple BL, et al: Aspirin induces apoptosis in vitro and inhibits tumor growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in a nude mouse xenograft model. Int J Oncol 40: 1298-1304, 2012
APA
Hossain, M.A., Kim, D.H., Jang, J.Y., Kang, Y.J., Yoon, J., Moon, J. ... Kim, N.D. (2012). Aspirin induces apoptosis in vitro and inhibits tumor growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in a nude mouse xenograft model. International Journal of Oncology, 40, 1298-1304. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2011.1304
MLA
Hossain, M. A., Kim, D. H., Jang, J. Y., Kang, Y. J., Yoon, J., Moon, J., Chung, H. Y., Kim, G., Choi, Y. H., Copple, B. L., Kim, N. D."Aspirin induces apoptosis in vitro and inhibits tumor growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in a nude mouse xenograft model". International Journal of Oncology 40.4 (2012): 1298-1304.
Chicago
Hossain, M. A., Kim, D. H., Jang, J. Y., Kang, Y. J., Yoon, J., Moon, J., Chung, H. Y., Kim, G., Choi, Y. H., Copple, B. L., Kim, N. D."Aspirin induces apoptosis in vitro and inhibits tumor growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in a nude mouse xenograft model". International Journal of Oncology 40, no. 4 (2012): 1298-1304. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2011.1304