Cooperative inhibitory effect of sinomenine combined with 5-fluorouracil on esophageal carcinoma

Figure 1 The individual and combined effects of sinomenine and 5-Fluorouracil on the proliferation of esophageal carcinoma cells. The proliferation of Esophageal carcinoma (Eca-109) cells was inhibited by SIN and 5-FU in a dose dependent manner (P < 0.05). SIN and 5-FU had significant synergistic effects on inhibiting the proliferation of Eca-109 cells especially at lower concentrations. SIN: Sinomenine; 5-FU: 5-Fluorouracil.

Figure 2 Quantitative flow cytometric measurements of G₂/M arrest and apoptosis in esophageal carcinoma cells treated with sinomenine and 5-Fluorouracil alone or in combination. The density plots illustrate four cell populations (live, apoptotic, necrotic, and late apoptotic/dead) defined by their fluorescence profiles. SIN and 5-FU alone significantly induced apoptosis compared with the group control (P < 0.05), and the combined effects were stronger than those of SIN or 5-FU alone (P < 0.05). SIN: Sinomenine; 5-FU: 5-Fluorouracil.

Figure 3 Apoptosis of esophageal carcinoma induced by sinomenine and 5-Fluorouracil alone or in combination. A: Control group; B: SIN group; C: 5-FU group; D: Combined group; apoptotic features were assessed by observing chromatin condensation and fragment staining. SIN: Sinomenine; 5-FU: 5-Fluorouracil.

Figure 4 Sinomenine and 5-Fluorouracil alone or in combination induced apoptosis in esophageal carcinoma cells through the mitochondrial pathway. Western blotting analysis results of Bcl-2 and Bax protein after SIN (160 μmol/L) and 5-FU (160 μmol/L) treatment. GAPDH was used as a loading control. SIN: Sinomenine; 5-FU: 5-Fluorouracil; GAPDH: Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase.

Figure 5 Detection of apoptotic cells in xenograft tumor tissue by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay. A: Control group; B: SIN group; C: 5-FU group; D: Combined group; SIN and 5-FU induced significant apoptosis of esophageal carcinoma cells in vivo compared with the saline control group (P < 0.05), and the apoptotic rate of the combination treatment group was more significant than that of the SIN alone and 5-FU alone groups. SIN: Sinomenine; 5-FU: 5-Fluorouracil.