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Updated: Mar 21, 2026
Intratibial Osteosarcoma Cell Injection to Generate Orthotopic Osteosarcoma and Lung Metastasis Mouse Models
Published on: October 28, 2021
Osthole Induces Cell Cycle Arrest and Inhibits Migration and Invasion via PTEN/Akt Pathways in Osteosarcoma
Background/Aims:
Osteosarcoma is the second highest cause of cancer-related death in children and adolescents. Majority of osteosarcoma patients (90%) show metastasis. Previous reports revealed that osthole showed antitumor activities via induction of apoptosis and inhibition of proliferation. However, the potential effects and detailed molecular mechanisms involved remained unclear.
Methods:
Cell viability was analyzed by MTT assay in osteosarcoma cell lines MG-63 and SAOS-2. Cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry. The effects of migration and invasion were evaluated by wound healing assay and transwell assays. Moreover, the level of proteins expression was determined by Western blot.
Results:
The cell viability of MG63 and SAOS-2 were markedly inhibited by osthole in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Cell cycle was arrested and the ability of migration and invasion was obviously reduced when cells were exposed to osthole. Moreover, enzymes involved in PTEN/Akt pathway were regulated such as PTEN and p-Akt proteins. Furthermore, osthole inhibited the tumor growth in vivo.
Conclusion:
Our study unraveled, for the first time, the ability of osthole to suppress osteosarcoma and elucidated the regulation of PTEN/Akt pathway as a signaling mechanism for the anti-tumor action of osthole. These findings indicate that osthole may represent a novel therapeutic strategy in the treatment of osteosarcoma.
Insights
Osthole effectively suppresses osteosarcoma cell growth, migration, and invasion by regulating the PTEN/Akt pathway. This natural compound shows promise as a novel therapeutic strategy for osteosarcoma treatment.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Osteosarcoma is a leading cause of cancer death in children and adolescents, with high rates of metastasis.
- Osthole has demonstrated preliminary antitumor activities, including apoptosis induction and proliferation inhibition.
- The precise molecular mechanisms underlying osthole's effects on osteosarcoma remain largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the anti-tumor effects of osthole on osteosarcoma cell lines.
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms, particularly the PTEN/Akt pathway, involved in osthole's anti-cancer action.
- To evaluate osthole's efficacy in inhibiting osteosarcoma growth in vivo.
Main Methods:
- Cell viability assessed using MTT assays in MG-63 and SAOS-2 osteosarcoma cell lines.
- Cell cycle analysis performed via flow cytometry.
- Migration and invasion evaluated through wound healing and Transwell assays; protein expression determined by Western blot.
Main Results:
- Osthole significantly inhibited osteosarcoma cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner.
- Osthole treatment led to cell cycle arrest and reduced migration and invasion capabilities.
- Osthole modulated PTEN/Akt pathway proteins (PTEN and p-Akt) and inhibited tumor growth in vivo.
Conclusions:
- Osthole demonstrates significant potential to suppress osteosarcoma progression.
- The anti-tumor action of osthole is mediated through the regulation of the PTEN/Akt signaling pathway.
- Osthole may serve as a promising novel therapeutic agent for osteosarcoma treatment.
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