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Planta Med 2014; 80(04): 255-261
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1360315
Biological and Pharmacological Activity
Original Papers
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Enhanced Anti-Tumor Activity of Triptolide in Combination with Irradiation for the Treatment of Oral Cancer

Yuan-Wu Chen
1   School of Dentistry, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
2   Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
,
Gu-Jiun Lin
3   Department of Biology and Anatomy, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
,
Dong-Yuan Hueng
4   Department of Neurological Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
,
Shing-Hwa Huang
3   Department of Biology and Anatomy, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
5   Department of Surgery, Division of General Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
,
Wei-Tso Chia
6   Orthopaedic Department, National Taiwan University Hospital, Hsin-Chu Branch, Taipei, Taiwan
,
Yi-Shing Shieh
1   School of Dentistry, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
,
Kuo-Hsing Ma
3   Department of Biology and Anatomy, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
,
Huey-Kang Sytwu
7   Graduate Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 30 December 2013
revised 30 December 2013

accepted 02 January 2014

Publication Date:
07 February 2014 (online)

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Abstract

Advanced oral cancer has a poor prognosis because of the lack of an effective treatment. We explored the efficiency of combined treatment with triptolide and ionizing radiation for treating oral cancer. Human tongue cancer cells were treated with triptolide, ionizing radiation, or triptolide plus ionizing radiation. Cell proliferation, cell cycle arrest, and apoptotic influences were analyzed by FACS and immunohistochemistry. Tumor potency was examined in an in vivo human tongue cancer cells xenograft mouse model. Our results demonstrated that triptolide caused a marked reduction in colony number that was further enhanced with increasing doses of ionizing radiation. Triptolide increased apoptosis and decreased the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins. In vivo, combination treatment synergistically reduced tumor weight and volume possibly via the induction of apoptosis and reduction in anti-apoptotic protein expression. In conclusion, triptolide plus ionizing radiation treatment had synergistic anti-tumor effects, especially in vivo, and may be a promising combined modality therapy for advanced oral cancer.

Key words

triptolide - ionizing radiation - human tongue cancer cells - Tripterygium wilfordii - Celastraceae
 

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