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Tumor Biology
Published in: Tumor Biology 4/2014

01-04-2014 | Research Article

Anticancer effects of deproteinized asparagus polysaccharide on hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro and in vivo

Authors: Jianfeng Xiang, Yanjie Xiang, Shengming Lin, Dongwei Xin, Xiaoyu Liu, Lingling Weng, Tao Chen, Minguang Zhang

Published in: Tumor Biology | Issue 4/2014

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Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most aggressive malignancies in the world whose chemoprevention became increasingly important in HCC treatment. Although the anticancer effects of asparagus constituents have been investigated in several cancers, its effects on hepatocellular carcinoma have not been fully studied. In this study, we investigated the anticancer effects of the deproteinized asparagus polysaccharide on the hepatocellular carcinoma cells using the in vitro and in vivo experimental model. Our data showed that deproteinized asparagus polysaccharide might act as an effective inhibitor on cell growth in vitro and in vivo and exert potent selective cytotoxicity against human hepatocellular carcinoma Hep3B and HepG2 cells. Further study showed that it could potently induce cell apoptosis and G2/M cell cycle arrest in the more sensitive Hep3B and HepG2 cell lines. Moreover, deproteinized asparagus polysaccharide potentiated the effects of mitomycin both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistic studies revealed that deproteinized asparagus polysaccharide might exert its activity through an apoptosis-associated pathway by modulating the expression of Bax, Bcl-2, and caspase-3. In conclusion, deproteinized asparagus polysaccharide exhibited significant anticancer activity against hepatocellular carcinoma cells and could sensitize the tumoricidal effects of mitomycin, indicating that it is a potential therapeutic agent (or chemosensitizer) for liver cancer therapy.
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Metadata
Title
Anticancer effects of deproteinized asparagus polysaccharide on hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro and in vivo
Authors
Jianfeng Xiang
Yanjie Xiang
Shengming Lin
Dongwei Xin
Xiaoyu Liu
Lingling Weng
Tao Chen
Minguang Zhang
Publication date
01-04-2014
Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Published in
Tumor Biology / Issue 4/2014
Print ISSN: 1010-4283
Electronic ISSN: 1423-0380
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13277-013-1464-x

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