ApoG2 induces ER stress-dependent apoptosis in gastric cancer cells in vitro and its real-time evaluation by bioluminescence imaging in vivo

Apogossypolone (ApoG2), a potent small molecular inhibitor of Bcl-2 family proteins, is reported to have a significant anti-cancer effect in several types of cancers, but it has not been investigated in gastric cancer. In this study, we demonstrate in vitro and in vivo that ApoG2 inhibits human gastric cancer. Gastric carcinoma cell growth and proliferation was significantly hampered in vitro, as measured by MTT and colony formation assays. Real-time bioluminescence imaging indicated that ApoG2 causes tumor growth delay in a murine xenograft model. Further studies revealed that the ApoG2 induced apoptosis in gastric cancer cells was associated with the endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis pathway. Conclusively, our results indicate that ApoG2 may be a promising agent for gastric cancer therapy. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.