Effects of As2O3 combined with AZT on migration and invasion of liver cancer HepG2 cells

Objective: To investigate the effects of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) combined with 3’-azido-3’-deoxythymidine (AZT) on the migration and invasion of human liver cancer HepG2 cells, and to explore its possible mechanism.Methods: The liver cancer HepG2 cells were treated with As2O3 or AZT alone or in combination; meanwhile, the HepG2 cells without any treatment were used as the blank control. The migration and invasion of HepG2 cells were measured by wound healing assay and Transwell migration and invasion assays, respectively. The expression mRNA levels of matrix metallopeptidase 2 (MMP2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative-PCR. The protein expression levels of MMP2, VEGF, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and phosphorylated ERK1/2 (p-ERK1/2) were detected by Western blotting.Results: The migration and invasion abilities of HepG2 cells in As2O3 combined with AZT group were significantly decreased than those in the blank control, As2O3 and AZT alone groups (all P 0.05).Conclusion: As2O3 combined with AZT has synergistic inhibitory effects on the migration and invasion abilities of HepG2 cells. The effect may be related to phosphorylation of ERK1/2 pathway and down-regulation of MMP2 and VEGF expressions. DOI:10.3781/j.issn.1000-7431.2015.11.230