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Updated: Aug 20, 2026
Subcutaneous Injection of Human Colorectal Cancer Cells in Athymic Nude Mice to Evaluate Antitumor Efficacy
Published on: July 8, 2025
Anticancer activity of resveratrol on implanted human primary gastric carcinoma cells in nude mice
Hai-Bo Zhou1, Juan-Juan Chen, Wen-Xia Wang
1Department of Gastroenterology, Second Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, Zhejiang Province, China. zhouhaibohz@163.com
Aim:
To investigate the apoptosis of implanted primary gastric cancer cells in nude mice induced by resveratrol and the relation between this apoptosis and expression of bcl-2 and bax.
Methods:
A transplanted tumor model was established by injecting human primary gastric cancer cells into subcutaneous tissue of nude mice. Resveratrol (500 mg/kg, 1,000 mg/kg and 1,500 mg/kg) was directly injected beside tumor body 6 times at an interval of 2 d. Then changes of tumor volume were measured continuously and tumor inhibition rate of each group was calculated. We observed the morphologic alterations by electron microscope, measured the apoptotic rate by TUNEL staining method, detected the expression of apoptosis-regulated genes bcl-2 and bax by immunohistochemical staining and PT-PCR.
Results:
Resveratrol could significantly inhibit carcinoma growth when it was injected near the carcinoma. An inhibitory effect was observed in all therapeutic groups and the inhibition rate of resveratrol at the dose of 500 mg/kg, 1,000 mg/kg and 1,500 mg/kg was 10.58%, 29.68% and 39.14%, respectively. Resveratrol induced implanted tumor cells to undergo apoptosis with apoptotic characteristics, including morphological changes of chromatin condensation, chromatin crescent formation, nucleus fragmentation. The inhibition rate of 0.2 mL of normal saline solution, 1,500 mg/kg DMSO, 500 mg/kg resveratrol, 1 000 mg/kg resveratrol, and 1 500 mg/kg resveratrol was 13.68+/-0.37%, 13.8+/-0.43%, 48.7+/-1.07%, 56.44+/-1.39% and 67+/-0.96%, respectively. The positive rate of bcl-2 protein of each group was 29.48+/-0.51%, 27.56+/-1.40%, 11.86+/-0.97%, 5.7+/-0.84% and 3.92+/-0.85%, respectively by immunohistochemical staining. The positive rate of bax protein of each group was 19.34+/-0.35%, 20.88+/-0.91%, 40.02+/-1.20%, 45.72+/-0.88% and 52.3+/-1.54%, respectively by immunohistochemical staining. The density of bcl-2 mRNA in 0.2 mL normal saline solution, 1,500 mg/kg DMSO, 500 mg/kg resveratrol, 1,000 mg/kg resveratrol, and 1,500 mg/kg resveratrol decreased progressively and the density of bax mRNA in 0.2 mL normal saline solution, 1,500 mg/kg DMSO, 500 mg/kg resveratrol, 1,000 mg/kg resveratrol, and 1,500 mg/kg increased progressively with elongation of time by RT-PCR.
Conclusion:
Resveratrol is able to induce apoptosis of transplanted tumor cells. This apoptosis may be mediated by down-regulating apoptosis-regulated gene bcl-2 and up-regulating the expression of apoptosis-regulated gene bax.
Insights
Resveratrol effectively inhibits gastric cancer growth in mice by inducing apoptosis. This cell death is linked to decreased bcl-2 and increased bax gene expression, offering a potential therapeutic pathway.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Gastric cancer remains a significant global health challenge.
- Resveratrol, a natural polyphenol, has demonstrated anti-cancer properties in various studies.
- Understanding resveratrol's mechanism of action in gastric cancer is crucial for therapeutic development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the apoptosis-inducing effects of resveratrol on primary gastric cancer cells implanted in nude mice.
- To explore the relationship between resveratrol-induced apoptosis and the expression of apoptosis-regulating genes, bcl-2 and bax.
Main Methods:
- A transplanted human primary gastric cancer model was established in nude mice.
- Resveratrol was administered at varying doses (500, 1000, 1500 mg/kg) via direct injection.
- Tumor volume, apoptotic rates (TUNEL staining), and expression of bcl-2 and bax (immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR) were assessed.
Main Results:
- Resveratrol significantly inhibited tumor growth in a dose-dependent manner, with inhibition rates up to 39.14%.
- Morphological and TUNEL staining confirmed resveratrol-induced apoptosis in tumor cells.
- Immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR revealed decreased bcl-2 and increased bax expression following resveratrol treatment.
Conclusions:
- Resveratrol effectively induces apoptosis in transplanted gastric cancer cells.
- The observed apoptosis is associated with the down-regulation of bcl-2 and up-regulation of bax gene expression.
- Resveratrol shows promise as a therapeutic agent for gastric cancer, potentially through modulation of apoptosis-related genes.