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World J Gastroenterol. Aug 14, 2007; 13(30): 4131-4135
Published online Aug 14, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i30.4131
Molecular mechanisms of paclitaxel and NM-3 on human gastric cancer in a severe combined immune deficiency mice orthotopic implantation model
Jin-Shui Zhu, Ming-Quan Song, Guo-Qiang Chen, Qin Li, Qun Sun, Qiang Zhang
Jin-Shui Zhu, Ming-Quan Song, Guo-Qiang Chen, Qin Li, Qun Sun, Qiang Zhang, Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200233, China
Guo-Qiang Chen, Chinese academy of science laboratory animals' center, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200233, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai, No. 02ZB14072
Correspondence to: Jin-Shui Zhu Professor, Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200233, China. zhujs1803@hotmail.com
Telephone: +86-21-64369181 Fax: +86-21-64837019
Received: April 26, 2007
Revised: May 3, 2007
Accepted: May 12, 2007
Published online: August 14, 2007
Abstract

AIM: To explore the molecular mechanisms of action of paclitaxel and NM-3 on human gastric cancer in severe combined immune deficiency (SCID) mice.

METHODS: Human gastric cancer cells SGC-7901 were implanted into SCID mice and mice were treated with paclitaxel and NM-3. The effects of paclitaxel and NM-3 on apoptosis of human gastric cancer cells were analyzed using flow cytometry, TUNEL assays, and DNA fragment analyses.

RESULTS: Apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells was successfully induced by paclitaxel, NM-3, and the combination of paclitaxel and NM-3 24 h after injection as shown by the presence of apoptotic hypodiploid peaks on the flow cytometer before G1-S and a characteristic apoptotic band pattern in the DNA electrophoresis. The apoptotic rate detected by TUNEL assay was found to be significantly higher in the paclitaxel/NM-3 compared to the control group (38.5% ± 5.14% vs 13.2% ± 1.75%, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: Paclitaxel in combination with NM-3 is able to induce apoptosis of the human gastric cancer cells in SCID mice effectively and synergistically.

Keywords: Gastric cancer, NM-3, Paclitaxel