Inducing Apoptosis of Norcantharidin in Combination with ABT-737 on Cervical Cancer Cells

WANG Na; ZHANG Ju-xin; LIU Guang-zhi

Abstract：Objective:Norcantharidin (NCTD) is a new small molecule with anticarcinogen activity, which was extracted from Chinese cantharides. ABT-737 is another small molecule with anticarcinogen activity in lower dose by inhibiting BCL-2. This study was designed to explore the effect of NCTD combined with ABT-737 on the in vitro proliferation and apoptosis of cervical cancer cells. Methods:HeLa and SiHa cell lines were cultured in vitro. NCTD alone or in combination with ABT-737 was used to treat cells. MTT assay was used to determine the viability of cells. The flow cytometry was used to detect apoptosis. Results:NCTD alone could significantly inhibit the proliferation of HeLa and SiHa in a dose-dependent manner. NCTD combined with ABT-737 could significantly enhance the effect of NCTD. The apoptosis rates of HeLa in the ABT-737 (1μmol/L) group and the NCTD (60 μmol/L) group were (31.65±7.75)% and (40.34±14.52)%, while this rate was (63.03±10.90)% in the NCTD combined ABT-737 group. The apoptosis rates of SiHa in the ABT-737 group and the NCTD group were (9.76±0.04)% and (22.04±3.03)%, respectively; while the rate in the NCTD combined ABT-737 group was (58.36±2.31)%. Effect of the combined two drugs on apoptosis was significantly stronger than that of any single drug (P<0.05). Conclusions:NCTD shows the in vitro anti-proliferation effect on the HeLa and SiHa cell lines and the effects of both inhibiting proliferation and inducing apoptosis when combined with ABT-737.