Bufalin and 5‑fluorouracil synergistically induce apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells

  • Authors:
    • Xiao‑Yu Dai
    • Bao‑Feng Zhou
    • Yang‑Yang Xie
    • Jie Lou
    • Ke‑Qiang Li
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: March 23, 2018     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2018.8332
  • Pages: 8019-8026
Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

5‑fluorouracil (5‑FU) has been used in the treatment of colorectal cancer for >50 years. However, drug resistance remains an obstacle in the application of 5‑FU‑based chemotherapy. Bufalin, a type of steroid with anti‑tumor activity, may be purified from the skin and parotid venom glands of toads. In order to improve the anti‑tumor effect of 5‑FU, the present study examined the combined effects of bufalin with 5‑FU on human colorectal cancer HCT116 cells. Following treatment, cell proliferation was quantified using MTT assay and apoptotic cell percentage was assessed by flow cytometry. The apoptosis‑associated protein expression was evaluated by western blotting. It was observed that bufalin enhanced the cytotoxicity of 5‑FU in HCT116 cells via the induction of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Additionally, bufalin combined with 5‑FU reduced the expression levels of anti‑apoptotic proteins, such as Mcl‑1, XIAP and Bcl‑2 and upregulated the levels of the pro‑apoptotic proteins, Bax and Bad. To verify the role of Bax, RNA interference was used to knock‑down Bax. It was determined that the synergistic effect between 5‑FU and bufalin was diminished following the silencing of Bax. In summary, bufalin in combination with 5‑FU may induce a higher level of apoptosis compared with monotherapy, and the combination mat be a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of colorectal cancer.
View Figures
View References

Related Articles

Journal Cover

May-2018
Volume 15 Issue 5

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

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Dai XY, Zhou BF, Xie YY, Lou J and Li KQ: Bufalin and 5‑fluorouracil synergistically induce apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells. Oncol Lett 15: 8019-8026, 2018.
APA
Dai, X., Zhou, B., Xie, Y., Lou, J., & Li, K. (2018). Bufalin and 5‑fluorouracil synergistically induce apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells. Oncology Letters, 15, 8019-8026. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2018.8332
MLA
Dai, X., Zhou, B., Xie, Y., Lou, J., Li, K."Bufalin and 5‑fluorouracil synergistically induce apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells". Oncology Letters 15.5 (2018): 8019-8026.
Chicago
Dai, X., Zhou, B., Xie, Y., Lou, J., Li, K."Bufalin and 5‑fluorouracil synergistically induce apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells". Oncology Letters 15, no. 5 (2018): 8019-8026. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2018.8332