Combined effects of vitamin D and neferine on the progression and metastasis of colorectal cancer

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the synergistic effect of vitamin D and neferine on the growth and metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods: The synergistic effect of biologically active form of vitamin D, VD₃ and neferine on the treatment of CRC was investigated by bliss analysis. Colony formation and wound healing ability, migration and invasion ability, and epithelial mesenchymal transition of HCT-116 cells, as a response to the combination treatment with VD₃ and neferine were evaluated.

Results: VD₃ and neferine showed a synergistic effect on CRC cell growth at a relatively low dose. The wound healing and colony formation capacity, cell migration and invasion abilities were all decreased by combination use of VD₃ and neferine, compared to the VD₃ or neferine treated single group. Furthermore, VD₃ and neferine significantly decreased the expressions of N-cadherin, vimentin, snail, and slug in HCT-116 cells.

Conclusion: These data suggest that neferine enhances the anticancer capability of VD₃ and reduces the dose dependency of VD₃. The combination of vitamin D with neferine appears to be a potential therapeutic strategy for CRC.

Keywords: Colorectal cancer; Invasion; Migration; Neferine; Vitamin D3.