Bufalin Inhibits the Proliferation of Human Esophageal Carcinoma TE13 Cells through Down-regulation of ERK

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of bufalin on the proliferation in the human esophageal carcinoma cell lines TE13 and to determine the relevant molecular mechanism. Bufalin could be a useful agent as a novel antitumor agent to inhibit carcinoma cell proliferation through down-regulate ERK. The immunocytochemistry and western blotting analysis were applied to measure the levels of ERK in bufalin-treated TE13 cells. The results indicated that bufalin inhibited the phosphorylation of ERK. The cytometry and MTT assays showed that proliferation effects were inhibited especially in bufalin-treated esophageal carcinoma TE13 cells. Taken together, the results of the research confirmed that bufalin produced the anti-proliferative effect on TE13 cells by contributing to the down-regulation of ERK.