Liver Cancer
Copyright ©2007 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jun 21, 2007; 13(23): 3171-3175
Published online Jun 21, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i23.3171
Effect of targeted magnetic nanoparticles containing 5-FU on expression of bcl-2, bax and caspase 3 in nude mice with transplanted human liver cancer
Jian-Ming Wang, Bao-Lai Xiao, Jian-Wei Zheng, Hai-Bing Chen, Sheng-Quan Zou
Jian-Ming Wang, Bao-Lai Xiao, Jian-Wei Zheng, Sheng-Quan Zou, Department of General Surgery of Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430 030, Hubei Province, China
Hai-Bing Chen, Department of Material, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the Hi-Tech Research and Development Program of China, NO.2002AA214061
Correspondence to: Sheng-Quan Zou, Professor, Department of General Surgery, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hangkong Road, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China. wjm18jgm@yahoo.com.cn
Telephone: +86-27-83663814 Fax: +86-27-83662398
Received: December 25, 2006
Revised: February 1, 2007
Accepted: February 8, 2007
Published online: June 21, 2007
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the anti-tumor effect and mechanisms of magnetic nanoparticles targeting hepatocellular carcinoma.

METHODS: Human hepatocellular carcinoma was induced in nude mice, and the mice were randomly divided into group A receiving normal saline, group B receiving magnetic nanoparticles containing 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), group C receiving 5-FU, and group D receiving magnetic nanoparticles containing 5-FU with a magnetic field built in tumor tissues. The tumor volume was measured on the day before treatment and 1, 4, 7, 10 and 13 d after treatment. Tumor tissues were isolated for examination of the expression of bcl-2, bax and caspase 3 by immunohistochemical method, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting.

RESULTS: The tumor volume was markedly lower in groups C and D than in groups A and B (group C or D vs group A or B, P < 0.01). The volume was markedly lower in group D than in group C (P < 0.05). The expression of protein and mRNA of bcl-2 was markedly lower in groups C and D than in groups A and B (group C or D vs group A or B, P < 0.01), and was markedly lower in group D than in group C (P < 0.01). The expression of bax and caspase 3 in groups C and D was significantly increased, compared with that in groups A and B (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: The targeted magnetic nanoparticles containing 5-FU can improve the chemotherapeutic effect of 5-FU against hepatocellular carcinoma by decreasing the expression of bcl-2 gene, and increasing the expression of bax and caspase 3 genes.

Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma; Magnetic nanoparticles; Fluorouracil; bcl-2; bax; caspase 3