Anticancer Effects of Baicalein in Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors In Vitro and In Vivo

Pancreas. 2017 Sep;46(8):1076-1081. doi: 10.1097/MPA.0000000000000895.

Abstract

Objectives: Baicalein is a Chinese traditional medicine that inhibits tumor migration and growth. Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) have a high incidence in China, but there are still no effective treatments. The aim of our study was to investigate whether baicalein could inhibit pNETs.

Methods: In vitro, we used BON1-a cell line of pNETs-to analyze the apoptosis and migration and invasion after baicalein treatment via flow cytometry and Western blot. In vivo, we used a xenograft tumors model to evaluate the size of tumors after baicalein treatment. Western blot was used to analyze the expression of apoptosis and migration-related protein.

Results: In vitro, the Cell Counting Kit 8 assay showed that baicalein decreased BON1 viability, and flow cytometry demonstrated that baicalein induced BON1 apoptosis and protein changes. In addition, baicalein inhibited BON1 migration and invasion as shown via a Transwell assay. In vivo, baicalein inhibited tumor growth and migration and also increased apoptosis-related protein expression.

Conclusions: Baicalein could increase caspase-3 and Bax expression and decrease survivin and Bcl-2 to induce apoptosis. It inhibits migration and invasion by decreasing expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / metabolism
  • Caspase 3 / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / drug effects*
  • Female
  • Flavanones / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / metabolism
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / metabolism
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / drug therapy*
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / metabolism
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / pathology
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Flavanones
  • baicalein
  • Caspase 3
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 2
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9