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Norcantharidin induce apoptosis in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma through caspase and mitochondrial pathway

Andy Wei-Ge Chen1, Yen-Shuo Tseng2, Chia-Chieh Lin3

  • 1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Changhua Christian Hospital, Taiwan.

Environmental Toxicology
|December 2, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Norcantharidin (NCTD) effectively suppresses nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell growth by inducing apoptosis. This study reveals NCTD

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is prevalent in Southeast Asia and Southern China.
  • Norcantharidin (NCTD), derived from blister beetles, exhibits anticancer properties in various tumors.
  • The efficacy of NCTD against NPC remains uninvestigated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the suppressive activity of NCTD on NPC.
  • To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of NCTD's action in NPC.

Main Methods:

  • NPC cell line (NPC-BM) was treated with NCTD.
  • Western blotting was employed to analyze protein expression.
  • Cell proliferation and apoptosis were assessed.

Main Results:

  • NCTD significantly inhibited NPC-BM cell proliferation.
  • NCTD induced apoptosis in NPC-BM cells, evidenced by caspase activation (caspase-3, -8, -9).
  • NCTD modulated apoptosis-related proteins, decreasing Bcl-XL and increasing Bak expression.

Conclusions:

  • NCTD exerts cytotoxic effects on NPC cells primarily through apoptosis.
  • The mechanism involves caspase and mitochondrial pathways.
  • NCTD shows potential as an anticancer agent for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Keywords:
apoptosismitochondrialnasopharyngeal carcinomanorcantharidin

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