Abstract
Background:
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers associated with a high rate of mortality. Disturbance between cell proliferation and cell death is one of the cancer hallmarks. Cell proliferation is mainly controlled by the cell cycle. The arrest of the cell cycle is one of the important targets of anticancer agents exert their therapeutic efficacy.
Objectives:
The present study tries to clarify the exact role of some natural products such as daidzein (DAZ) and alcoholic chicory leaf extract (CE), as possible regulators of cell cycle and apoptosis.
Methods:
HCC in rats was induced using diethylnitrosamine (DENA). Ninety rats were allocated and divided equally into nine groups, treated with CE, DAZ, a combination of both, and sorafenib, with nontreated control groups.
Results:
Treatment with CE, DAZ, and their combination significantly downregulated hepatic tissue expression of cyclin D1/CDK4 axis as well as cyclin A/CDK2 axis. The suggested therapeutic protocol inhibited the proliferation and dampened Bcl-2 expression. Additionally, the combination of CE and DAZ showed a comparable potency to sorafenib in respect to the cyclin D/CDK4 axis, as well as; this protocol was a more potent inhibitor of cyclin A and Ki-67 expression.
Conclusion:
Treatment with DAZ or CE alone, or their combination, could possess an inhibitory effect on hepatocarcinogenesis via cell cycle arrest, inhibition of proliferation through suppression of Ki-67 expression, and apoptosis induction, mediated by downregulation of Bcl-2.
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