Inhibition of lung cancer cells migration and invasion by metformin combined with irradiation

Wang Wenjun; Lie Puyi; Guo Minzhang; He Jianxing

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1004-437X.2016.05.003

Abstract：Objective To investigate the effect of metformin combined with irradiate on migration and invasion capacity in lung cancer so as to shed new light on the development of target therapy for lung cancer.Methods Inhibitory effect of metformin combined with irradiation on A549 cells was detected by MTT.The migration and invasion capacity of tumor cells were assessed by wound healing assay and transwell chamber with matrigelgel,respectively.Expression of MMP -2,MMP -6,VEGF was measured by Western blot.Results MTT assay showed an obvious suppression of A549 cells proliferation in response to Met-formin treatment.12 h and 24 h migration distances in the metformin group,irradiation group and combined treatment group were lower than the control group.The combined treatment with metformin and Irradiation also caused a significantly higher inhibition rate of A549 cells invasion than metformin or Irradiate alone.The combined treatment group could down regulate the expression of VEGF,MMP -9 and MMP -2.Conclusion Metformin reduced the growth of lung cancer tumor cells,down regulated the ex-pression of MMP -2,MMP -9 and VEGF,inhibited the lung cancer cell invasion.It suggests that metformin can play an impor-tant role in the metastasis of lung cancer and maybe a potential therapy for lung cancer.