XIAP inhibitor Embelin inhibits bladder cancer survival and invasion in vitro.

BACKGROUND

Bladder cancer is the second most common urological malignancy around the world and is by far the most frequent urological malignancy in China. Embelin is an active compound identified as a novel X-chromosome-linked IAP (XIAP) inhibitor from the Embelia ribes that exhibits various medicinal effects including anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities. However, therapeutic effect of Embelin to human bladder cancer is not yet determined.

METHODS

We evaluated the sensitizing potential of Embelin on inhibiting cell growth and migration of bladder cancer cell line by CCK8, Transwell, and Western Blot, and explored its related mechanism. We performed IHC staining of XIAP in 35 bladder cancer tissues and corresponding adjacent non-neoplastic tissues.

RESULTS

XIAP was significantly upregulated in bladder cancer cases. When the concentration of Embelin was used respectively at 5, 10, 20, 25, and 35 µmol/l, the survival of both T24 and 5637 cells decreased in a dose-/time-dependent manner. Our study confirmed that with the increase of concentration of Embelin, the expression levels of PI3K and p-Akt decreased significantly which further confirmed that Embelin inhibits cell growth by inducing apoptosis via PI3K/Akt pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

Embelin may be developed into a novel and potential chemotherapeutic drug for bladder cancer.