The Anticancer Effect of Huaier Extract in Renal Cancer 786-O Cells.

BACKGROUND:Trametes robiniophila Murr (Huaier) has been used as an adjuvant therapy of tumor in traditional Chinese medicine for many years, but the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. In the present study, we tested the inhibitory effect of Huaier extract on renal cancer 786-O cells and explored the possible mechanisms.METHODS:786-O cells were treated by gradient concentrations of Huaier extract, cell viability, invasion, migration and apoptosis were assessed by cell counting kit 8, cell scratch, transwell, and flow cytometry assay in vitro. The changes in protein level were detected by western blot analysis. Finally, the anticancer effect of Huaier was tested in vivo by nude mouse tumorigenicity assay.RESULTS:Viability of 786-O cells was suppressed by Huaier in a time- and dose-dependent manner; cell invasion and migration were also dramatically inhibited. Flow cytometry assays showed that Huaier could induce cell apoptosis. Western blotting analysis indicated that Huaier suppressed the activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR/p70S6K/4E-BP1 signaling pathway. We also found that Huaier could partly reverse the epithelialmesenchymal transition (EMT) process. In vivo experiment indicated that tumor growth in the xenograft mouse model was suppressed by Huaier.CONCLUSION:Huaier plays an anticancer effect partially through the suppression of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR/p70S6K/4E-BP1 pathway and by reversing the EMT process. Huaier may act as an effective agent for treating renal cell carcinoma.