Rapamycin (Rapa), an inhibitor of mammalian target of Rapamycin (mTOR), is an immunosuppressive agent that has anti-proliferative effects on some tumors. This study aims to investigate the effects of Rapa suppressing proliferation of pancreatic carcinoma PC-2 cells in vitro and its molecular mechanism involved in antitumor activities. MTT assays showed that the inhibition of proliferation of PC-2 cells in vitro was in a time- and dose-dependent manner. By using transmission electron microscopy, apoptosis bodies and formation of abundant autophagic vacuoles were observed in PC-2 cells after Rapa treatment. Flow cytometry assays also showed Rapa had a positive effect on apoptosis. MDC staining showed that the fluorescent density was higher and the number of MDC-labeled particles in PC-2 cells was greater in the Rapa treatment group than in the control group. RT-PCR revealed that the expression levels of p53, Bax and Beclin 1 were up-regulated in a dose-dependent manner, indicating that Beclin 1 was involved in Rapa induced autophagy and Rapa induced apoptosis as well as p53 up-regulation in PC-2 cells. The results demonstrated that Rapa could effectively inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis and autophagy in PC-2 cells.

Angiogenesis is closely related to the growth, invasion and metastasis of tumors, also considered as the key target of anticancer therapy. Scutellaria barbata D. Don (S. barbata), a traditional Chinese medicine, is being used to treat various diseases, including cancer. However, the antitumor molecular mechanism of S. barbata was still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effects of the total flavones in S. barbata (TF-SB) on angiogenesis. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with various concentrations of TF-SB. Cell viability was examined using the MTT assay. The scratch assay was used to detect the migration of HUVECs after treatment with TF-SB. The ability of HUVECs to form network structures in vitro was demonstrated using the tube formation assay. The chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane assay was performed to detect the in vivo anti-angiogenic effect. The expression of VEGF was measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent. Results showed that TF-SB inhibited the proliferation and migration of HUVECs in a dose- dependent manner. Simultaneously, TF-SB significantly suppressed HUVEC angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, VEGF was downregulated in both HUVECs and MHCC97-H cells after TF-SB treatment. TF-SB could suppress the process of angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. TF-SB potentially suppresses angiogenesis in HUVECs by regulating VEGF. These findings suggested that TF-SB may serve as a potent anti-angiogenic agent.

Saikosaponin-d (SSd), a monomer terpenoid purified from the Chinese herbal drug Radix bupleuri, has multiple effects, including anticancer properties. However, the effect of SSd on tumors exposed to radiation is largely unknown. To investigate the radiosensitizing effect of SSd and its possible mechanism, we combined SSd with radiation therapy to treat SMMC-7721 hepatocellular carcinoma cells under oxia and hypoxia.

Published data on the association between AURKA polymorphisms and breast cancer (BC) risk are inconclusive. This meta-analysis was performed to derive a more precise estimation on the relationship between AURKA polymorphisms (rs2273535 and rs1047972) and BC risk. PubMed, Web of Knowledge and Embase were searched for relevant studies. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to estimate the strength of associations. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were performed for allele contrast genetic model, homozygous genetic model, heterozygote genetic model, dominant model, and recessive model, respectively. A total of 13 studies (16,349 BC patients and 20,872 case-free controls) were involved in this meta-analysis. Meta-analysis showed that there was significant association between rs2273535 and BC risk in three genetic models in the overall population (A vs. T: OR = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.01-1.15, P = 0.02; AA vs. TT: OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.06-1.73, P < 0.00001; AA vs. TT + TA: OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.01-1.31, P = 0.04). In the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, the effects remained in Asians (allele contrast genetic model: OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.00-1.26, P = 0.04 and homozygote comparison: OR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.06-1.41, P = 0.007). However, no genetic models reached statistical association in Cauasians. Rs1047972 polymorphism was associated with BC risk in the overall population based on homozygote comparison (AA vs. GG: OR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.66-0.99, P = 0.04). When stratified by ethnicity, rs1047972 polymorphism had a decreased association with BC risk in Caucasians based on allele contrast genetic model, homozygote comparison, the dominant model and the recessive model. However, there was no association in any genetic model in Asians. This meta-analysis suggests that AURKA rs2273535 polymorphism has an increased risk with BC, especially in Asians. However, rs1047972 polymorphism has a decreased BC risk in Caucasians. Further large scale multicenter epidemiological studies are warranted to confirm this finding.

Radiation-induced skin injury is a common complication of radiotherapy. The RHIZOMA COPTIDIS and COPTIS CHINENSIS aqueous extract (RCE) can ameliorate radiation-induced skin injury in our clinical observation. But, the protective mechanism of RHIZOMA COPTIDIS and COPTIS CHINENSIS in radiation-induced skin injury remains unclear. In this experiment, we developed a radiation-induced skin injury rat model to study the mechanism. The animals were randomly divided into control group, treatment group, radiation group, and treatment and radiation group. 5 rats in each group were separately executed on 2 d and 49 d post-radiation. The semi-quantitative skin injury score was used to measure skin reactions by unblinded observers, and hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to evaluate the damage areas by irradiation. The MDA content, SOD activity of skin and serum were measured to detect the oxidative stress. Acute skin reactions were caused by a single dose of 45 Gy of β-ray irradiation, and the skin injury could be found in all rats receiving irradiation based on the observation of HE staining of skin at different time-points, while RCE could significantly ameliorate those changes. The MDA content in serum and skin of control rats was 4.13 ± 0.12 mmol/ml and 4.95 ± 0.35 mmol/mgprot on 2 d post-radiation. The rats receiving radiation showed an increased content of MDA (5.54 ± 0.21 mmol/ml and 7.10 ± 0.32 mmol/mgprot), while it was 4.57 ± 0.21 mmol/ml and 5.95 ± 0.24 mmol/mgprot after treated with RCE (p < 0.05). Similar changes of the MDA content could be seen on 49 d post-radiation. However, the SOD activity of rats receiving radiation decreased compared with control group on both time-points, which was inhibited by RCE (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, no valuable changes could be found between control group and treatment group on 2 d and 49 d. Our study provides evidences for the radioprotective role of RCE against radiation-induced skin damage in rats by modulating oxidative stress in skin, which may be a useful therapy for radiation-induced skin injury.