Combined anti-tumor effects of mDRA-6 and nimesulide on human hepatocellular cancer cell line SMMC-7721

Objective The aim of this work was to evaluate anti-tumor effects of mDRA-6 plus nimesulide on a human hepatocellular cancer cell line, SMMC-7721, and study the main mechanisms. Methods The DR5 receptor of SMMC-7721 cells was detected by flow cytometry (FCM). For further experimental application, SMMC-7721 cells were treated with proper dose of mDRA-6, nimesulide, or mDRA-6 plus 200 μmol/L nimesulide; untreated SMMC-7721 cells were comparably set as control. Cytotoxicity was tested by MTT assay; cell morphology was examined using Hoechst 33258 staining; and apoptosis was determined by FCM. Results The positive rate of DR5 on SMMC-7721 was 95.0%. Either mDRA-6 or nimesulide alone induces SMMC-7721 cell death in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment of 1,600 ng/mL mDRA-6 for 12h led to a cell-death rate of 35.0%, while an increased cell-death rate (91.1%) was found under the same condition of mDRA-6 treatment supplemented with 200 μmol/L nimesulide. Hoechst 33258 and Annexin V/PI staining confirmed apoptosis as the main cause of this anti-tumor response. Conclusion Both mDRA-6 and nimesulide can induce apoptosis of SMMC-7721 cells, and they have synergistic anti-tumor activities against SMMC-7721.