Background & objective: The authors had firstly reported that ampelopsin possess anticancer effects on several human cancer cell lines in vitro and on transplant mouse B16 melanoma in vivo. In order to further explore its antitumor effect, the authors designed this study to investigate the effect of ampelopsin on invasion and metastasis of B16 melanoma in vivo and in vitro.
Methods: B16 cells were injected into C57BL/6 mouse via tail lateral vein, and subsequently formed an experimental pulmonary metastasis. Ampelopsin was administered at 3 dosages by intraperitoneal injection daily for 18 days from the day before cell injection. The B16 mouse melanoma cells were treated with ampelopsin for 3 days. The effect of ampelopsin on invasion, migration,and adhesion of B16 melanoma cells were evaluated using Transwell chambers attached with polycarbonate filters and reconstituted basement membrane (Matrigel).
Results: The number of metastases in the mice that were given ampelopsin at the dosages of 150, 200, and 250 mg/kg significantly reduced as compared to the control (P< 0.05), and the inhibition rates were 30.97%, 40.58%, and 61.16%, respectively. The ability of the ampelopsin treated B16 cells to invade the reconstituted basement membrane decreased significantly (P< 0.01), and the inhibition rates were 36.06%, 59.58%, and 79.09% for ampelopsin at 20, 40, and 80 micromol/L, respectively. Ampelopsin can also inhibit B16 cells migration,and the inhibition rates were 51.59%, 56.51%, and 66.75% for ampelopsin at 20, 40, and 80 micromol/L, respectively (P< 0.01). The ability of adhesion of the B16 cells with fibronectin, laminin, or Matrigel decreased significantly.
Conclusion: Ampelopsin has anti-invasive and anti-metastatic effects on B16 melanoma.