Open Access
ARTICLE
Baicalein Exerts Anticancer Effect in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma In Vitro and In Vivo
Jiandong Guo, Huihua You, Dong Li
Department of Otorhinolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Jinhua Central Hospital, Jinhua, P.R. China
Oncology Research 2019, 27(5), 601-611. https://doi.org/10.3727/096504018X15399945637736
Abstract
Baicalein, an active ingredient separated from
Astragalus membranaceus, has shown its anticancer ability in
various cancers. However, its effect on nasopharyngeal carcinoma has not been explored yet. The present study
aimed to investigate the effect of baicalein on the growth, proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle of human
nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells, as well as transplanted nude mouse xenograft. The results showed that baicalein inhibited the growth and proliferation of CNE1 and CNE2 cells in a time- and concentration-dependent
manner. It also caused a significant increase in the number of cells in the G
0/G
1 phase and a decrease in the
G
2/M phase, thereby reducing the number of cells entering mitosis and inhibiting the proliferation of tumor
cells. Baicalein also significantly induced apoptosis of CNE1 and CNE2 cells. Western blots showed that baicalein decreased the expression of Bcl-xl and Mcl-1 and increased the expression of Bax, Bad, and caspase 3, 8,
and 9. In CNE1- and CNE2-transplanted tumors of mice, baicalein significantly inhibited tumor growth. In conclusion, baicalein could inhibit the growth and proliferation of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells, change
their cell cycle, and induce apoptosis. Baicalein also effectively limits both CNE1- and CNE2-transplanted
tumors in nude mice. Downregulation of Bcl-xl and Mcl-1 proteins and upregulation of Bax and Bad may be
involved in the mechanism.
Keywords
Cite This Article
Guo, J., You, H., Li, D. (2019). Baicalein Exerts Anticancer Effect in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma In Vitro and In Vivo.
Oncology Research, 27(5), 601–611.