Artemisinin inhibits in vitro and in vivo invasion and metastasis of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Weifeng, Tan; Feng, Shen; Xiangji, Luo; Changqing, Su; Zhiquan, Qiu; Huazhong, Zeng; Peining, Yan; Yong, Yu; Mengchao, Wu; Xiaoqing, Jiang; Wan-yee, Lau

doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2010.07.003

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Volume 18, Issue 2 , Pages 158-162, 15 January 2011

Artemisinin inhibits in vitro and in vivo invasion and metastasis of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Tan Weifeng
- Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200438, PR China
- Co-first authors.
- Designed the study, collected the data and conducted some of the experiments.
Shen Feng
- Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200438, PR China
- Co-first authors.
- These authors planned and coordinated the experiments.
Luo Xiangji
- Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200438, PR China
- These authors carried out the molecular biology experiments.
Su Changqing
- Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200438, PR China
- These authors carried out the molecular biology experiments.
Qiu Zhiquan
- Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200438, PR China
- These authors carried out the cell biology and animal experiments.
Zeng Huazhong
- Shanghai Sensichip Infotech Co., Ltd., Shanghai 200433, PR China
- Analysed the data.
Yan Peining
- Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200438, PR China
- These authors carried out the cell biology and animal experiments.
Yu Yong
- Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200438, PR China
- These authors carried out the cell biology and animal experiments.
Wu Mengchao
- Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200438, PR China
- These authors planned and oversaw the research project and drafted the paper.
Jiang Xiaoqing
- Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200438, PR China
- These authors planned and coordinated the experiments.
- Corresponding author.
Lau Wan-yee
- Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200438, PR China
- Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
- These authors planned and oversaw the research project and drafted the paper.
- Corresponding author at: Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, PR China.

published online 27 August 2010.

Abstract

Artemisinin (ART) is isolated from the medicinal plant Artemisia annua L. To determine its effects on the invasion and metastasis of tumors, the human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines HepG2 and SMMC-7721 were treated with different concentrations of ART. Starting at 12.5μM, ART had inhibitory effects in migration and invasion assays that increased at higher concentrations. The inhibitory effect also became stronger with time, from 24 to 72h. ART significantly inhibited the in vivo metastatic abilities of the HepG2 HCC cell line. ART inhibited the invasion and metastasis of HCC cells both in vitro and in vivo by reducing the level of the MMP2 metalloproteinase, and by inducing the TIMP2 protein. ART activated Cdc42, which enhanced E-cadherin activity, resulting in greater cell–cell adhesion, and significantly reduced metastasis.