The incidence rate of (EC) has increased significantly in the past 2 decades. The current chemotherapy for this disease can cause intolerable side effects. Recently, both cordycepin and gold nanostars have demonstrated the ability to inhibit the growth and differentiation of cancers. This study aimed to investigate the antiEC effects of cordycepin, gold nanostars (Au NS), and the combination of the two. The gold nanostars were made by seed-mediated reduction, and their morphology was confirmed by laser particle size analysis, spectrophotometry, and electron microscopy. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide cytotoxicity assays, clonogenic assays, and flow cytometry were employed to evaluate the inhibition rate, survival fraction, and apoptosis in HEC-1A cells under different concentrations of cordycepin, Au NS, and their combination. This study revealed that both cordycepin and Au NS with 808 nm light exposure could inhibit cell proliferation, cause cell apoptosis, and inhibit the clone ability of EC cells. This study supports further investigations into Au NS-cordycepin in the development of new treatments for EC.

Background: The incidence rate of endometrial cancer has increased significantly in the past two decades. The current chemotherapy of endometrial cancer can cause intolerable side effects.Recently, both cordycepin and gold nanostars have demonstrated the ability to inhibit the growth and differentiation of cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-endometrial cancer effects of cordycepin, gold nanostars and the combination of two. Methods: The gold nanostars were made by seed-mediated reduction, and their morphology was confirmed by laser particle size analysis, spectrophotometry and electron microscopy. MTT cytotoxicity assays, clonogenic assays and flow cytometry were employed to evaluate the inhibition rate, survival fraction and apoptosis in HEC-1A cells under different concentrations of cordycepin, Au NS and their combination. Results: This study revealed that both cordycepin and Au NS with 808 nm light exposure could inhibit cell proliferation, cause cell apoptosis, and inhibit clone ability of endometrial cancer cells. The combined Au NScordycepin solution produced greater anti-cancer effects than each treatment alone. Conclusion: This study supports further investigations into Au NS-cordycepin in the development of new treatments for endometrial cancer. Background Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most common gynaecological epithelial malignancies [1].Although the actual cause of the disease is unknown, it is generally believed that oestrogen plays an important role in the development of the disease. Common treatments for EC are surgical resection, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and hormonal therapy [2]. Approximately two-thirds of diagnosed EC patients are treated with surgical resection, which helps to reduce EC complications and the use of painkillers and also prolongs life [3]. However, the consequences of surgical resection are infertility and osteoporosis. Radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy is often used as the treatment of choice for mild to moderate states of cancer. The most common physiological side effects caused by these treatments include loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea, constipation, paralysis, insomnia, pain, hair loss, etc. Certainly, these side effects have a great impact on patient quality of life. Novel treatments are thus required to replace chemotherapy or to reduce the required dose.