The resistance-reversal effect of artesunate on human esophageal cancer transplanted in nude mice

Objective To explore the relationship between ABCG2 and multidrug resistance of esophageal cancer and the mechanism of resistance-reversal effect by artesunate(Art).Methods To establish the bearing cancer nude mice model by inoculating with Eca109/ABCG2 cells subcutaneously on the left subscapularis and study the resistance-reversal effect of artesunate on esophageal cancer using nude mice model.Injection drugs after subcutaneous tumor formation.Intraperitoneal injection with artesunate and adriamycin(ADM).To set up Art high and low dose group(50,25mg/kg Art),ADM group(1mg/kg ADM),ADM+ Art high and low dose group(1mg/kg ADM+50,25mg/kg Art) and control group in the saline.The second day of the withdrawal of drugs,the nude mice were euthanized by breaking neck.The nodules of mice were stripped,then making into single cell suspension fluid with nets rub method.The apoptosis rate,ABCG2 protein expression level and ADM content in transplanted tumor cells were detected by flow cytometry.Results The model of esophageal cancer cell Eca109/ABCG2 xenograft in nude mice was successfully established,the tumorigenic rate was 100%.The growth inhibitory effect,ADM content in tumor cells and the apoptosis rate of esophageal cancer xenograft tumor cells treated with ADM in vivo were enhanced by combining artesunate without causing obvious side effects in treated mice.The ABCG2 protein expression level was significantly decreased in ADM+ Art high and low dose group compared with ADM group(P < 0.05).Conclusion ABCG2 participated in the development of esophageal cancer multidrug-resistance,artesunate could reverse the resistance of esophageal cancer by reducing the expression level of ABCG2.