TY  - EJOU
AU  - Guo, Jiandong 
AU  - You, Huihua 
AU  - Li, Dong 

TI  - Baicalein Exerts Anticancer Effect in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma  In Vitro and In Vivo
T2  - Oncology Research

PY  - 2019
VL  - 27
IS  - 5
SN  - 1555-3906

AB  - Baicalein, an active ingredient separated from <i>Astragalus membranaceus</i>, 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<sub>0</sub>/G<sub>1</sub> phase and a decrease in the 
G<sub>2</sub>/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.
KW  - Baicalein; Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC); Apoptosis; Cell cycle; Xenograft

DO  - 10.3727/096504018X15399945637736