Effects of propofol on proliferation and apoptosis of cardia cancer cells via MAPK/ERK signaling pathway

Z. Su, H.-L. Liu, B. Qi, Y. Liu

Department of Anesthesiology, Huai’an First People’s Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Huai’an, Jiangsu, China. 18762002958@163.com

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• Pharmacology

OBJECTIVE: To explore the influences of propofol on the proliferation and apoptosis of cardia cancer cells via mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) signaling pathway.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 65 surgical resection specimens of cardia cancer were selected as research objects and divided into control group and with low (12.5 μmol/L), medium (25 μmol/L), and high (50 μmol/L) propofol concentration groups. The apoptosis of cancer cells, ERK1/2 phosphorylation level, expressions of Caspase-3, B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), and Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax) in each group were detected.

RESULTS: Propofol in different concentrations could all effectively inhibit the proliferation of cardia cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. Different concentrations of propofol promoted the apoptosis of cardia cancer cells, and the apoptosis rate constantly increased with the rising concentration of propofol (p<0.05). Propofol could repress the expression of Bcl-2 and up-regulate the expression levels of Caspase-3, Bax, and phosphorylated ERK1/2.

CONCLUSIONS: Propofol can inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of cardia cancer cells, and the action mechanism may be correlated with the inhibition on the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway.

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