Gastric Cancer
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2002. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Apr 15, 2002; 8(2): 230-232
Published online Apr 15, 2002. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v8.i2.230
Methionine-dependence and combination chemotherapy on human gastric cancer cells in vitro
Wei-Xin Cao, Jing-Min Ou, Xu-Feng Fei, Zheng-Gang Zhu, Hao-Ran Yin, Min Yan, Yan-Zhen Lin
Wei-Xin Cao, Jing-Min Ou, Xu-Feng Fei, Department of Clinical Nutrition, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 200025, China
Zheng-Gang Zhu, Hao-Ran Yin, Min Yan, Yan-Zhen Lin, Department of Surgery, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 200025, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the Science Foundation of Ministry of Health of China, No.96-2-296
Correspondence to: Dr. Wei-Xin Cao, Department of Clinical Nutrition, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Second Medical University, 197 Ruijiner Road, Shanghai 200025, China. fische@citiz.net
Telephone: +86-21-64370045 Ext.661688 Fax: +86-21-64333548
Received: August 24, 2001
Revised: September 1, 2001
Accepted: September 5, 2001
Published online: April 15, 2002
Abstract

AIM: To elucidate whether human primary gastric cancer and gastric mucosa epithelial cells in vitro can grow normally in a methionine (Met) depleted environment, i.e. Met-dependence, and whether Met-depleting status can enhance the killing effect of chemotherapy on gastric cancer cells.

METHODS: Fresh human gastric cancer and mucosal tissues were managed to form monocellular suspensions, which were then cultured in the Met-free but homocysteine-containing (Met-Hcy+) medium, with different chemotherapeutic drugs. The proliferation of the cells was examined by cell counter, flow cytometry (FCM) and microcytotoxicity assay (MTT).

RESULTS: The growth of human primary gastric cancer cells in Met-Hcy+ was suppressed, manifested by the decrease of total cell counts [1.46 ± 0.42 (× 109•L⁻¹) in Met-Hcy+vs 1.64 ± 0.44 (× 109•L⁻¹) in Met+Hcy-, P < 0.01], the decline in the percentage of G0G1 phase cells (0.69 ± 0.24 in Met-Hcy+vs 0.80 ± 0.18 in Met+Hcy-, P < 0.01) and the increase of S cells (0.24 ± 0.20 in Met-Hcy+vs 0.17 ± 0.16 in Met+Hcy-, P < 0.01); however, gastric mucosal cells grew normally. If Met-Hcy+medium was used in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs, the number of surviving gastric cancer cells dropped significantly.

CONCLUSION: Human primary gastric cancer cells in vitro are Met-dependent; however, gastric mucosal cells have not shown the same characteristics. Met-Hcy+ environment may strengthen the killing effect of chemotherapy on human primary gastric cancer cells.

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