β-Elemene, a novel plant-derived antineoplastic agent, increases cisplatin chemosensitivity of lung tumor cells by triggering apoptosis

Qingdi Q. Li, Gangduo Wang, Manchao Zhang, Christopher F. Cuff, Lan Huang, Eddie Reed

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

90 Scopus citations

Abstract

β-Elemene, a new plant-derived anticancer agent with low toxicity, has been reported to be effective in the treatment of leukemia and solid tumors. In the current study, we explored the therapeutic application of β-elemene in sensitizing lung cancer cells to cisplatin. β-Elemene considerably enhanced the inhibitory effect of cisplatin on cell proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner in the human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines H460 and A549. Furthermore, this effect of β-elemene on cisplatin activity occurred through the induction of apoptosis in NSCLC cells, as assessed by an ELISA-based assay, TUNEL assay and annexin V binding assay. Consistent with these results, the protein levels of Bax and phospho-Bcl-2 increased and those of Bcl-2 and XIAP decreased in cells treated with β-elemene in combination with cisplatin, compared with the levels in cells treated with either agent alone. Finally, β-elemene augmented the cisplatin-induced increases in caspase-3, -7, -9 and -10 activities and cleaved caspase-3, -9 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase levels in NSCLC cells. These observations suggest that β-elemene sensitizes NSCLC cells to cisplatin via a mitochondria-mediated intrinsic apoptosis pathway involving Bcl-2 family proteins and IAPs (inhibitor of apoptosis proteins). Our data provide a rationale for developing a combination of β-elemene and cisplatin as a regimen for the treatment of lung carcinoma and other cisplatin-resistant tumors.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)161-170
Number of pages10
JournalOncology Reports
Volume22
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2009
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Apoptosis
  • Chinese medicine
  • Cisplatin
  • Lung cancer
  • Plant drug
  • β-elemene

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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