Published online Aug 15, 2021. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v13.i8.893
Peer-review started: May 20, 2021
First decision: June 12, 2021
Revised: June 17, 2021
Accepted: July 5, 2021
Article in press: July 5, 2021
Published online: August 15, 2021
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most common malignancies with a poor prognosis. Dihydrotanshinone I (DHTS) has been reported to exert anti
This study investigated the role of DHTS in ESCC and the underlying mechanisms, and explored novel therapeutic agents for ESCC.
The aim of this study was to investigate the antitumor effect of DHTS in ESCC and the underlying mechanisms.
CCK-8 assay was used to detect proliferation and cell cycle analysis was used to detect cell cycle in ESCC cells. Annexin V-PE/7-AAD double staining assay and Hoechst 33258 staining were used to detect apoptosis. Western blot was used to detect the expression of proteins associated with proliferation and the mitochondrial pathway. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of phosphorylated STAT3 (pSTAT3) in DHTS-treated ESCC cells. ESCC cells with STAT3 knockdown and over
After treatment with DHTS, the proliferation of ESCC cells was inhibited in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Moreover, DHTS induced cell cycle arrest in the G0/1 phase. Annexin V-PE/7-AAD double staining assay and Hoechst 33258 staining revealed that DHTS induced obvious apoptosis in KYSE30 and Eca109 cells. At the molecular level, DHTS treatment reduced the expression of pSTAT3 and anti-apop
DHTS exerts antitumor effect in ESCC via STAT3-mediated activation of the mito
In the future, additional research will be carried out to further explore the important role of DHTS and whether DHTS treatment can be employed to improve the prognosis of ESCC patients.