Magnesium Demethylcantharidate induces apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells via ER stress

Abstract

Cantharidin (CTD) is a bioactive ingredient isolated from Cantharis vesicatoria (blister beetles), which has potential therapeutic value as an anticancer agent. Magnesium Demethylcantharidate (MDC) is a recently developed derivative of Cantharidin (CTD), and previous studies have illustrated its excellent anticancer activity on HCC cells.However, the effect and mechanism of MDC remains unclear and need to be further studied. In particular, whether MDC can cause ER stress in HCC is still unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)-related proteins were changed in SMMC-7721 and Bel-7402 cells after being exposed to MDC. Moreover, we found that MDC could significantly inhibit the growth of xenograft tumor in nude mice. In summary, we confirmed that MDC could induce ERS in HCC cells and thus induce apoptosis.

Brucine suppresses proliferation and promotes apoptosis of human cholangiacarcinoma cells via the inhibition of COX2 expression

“…COX-2 derived prostaglandin at chronic inflammatory diseases may lead to cancer [16]. Multiple signaling pathways are activated by COX-2-induced synthesis of prostaglandins in cancer cells, including apoptosis pathway [17][18][19][20]. High COX-2 expression is detected in a variety of cancers, and is closely related to the characteristics of malignant tumor features and poor prognosis [21].…”