INHIBITORY EFFECT OF LYCOPENE AGAINST THE GROWTH OF HUMAN GASTRIC CANCER CELLS

Background The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-proliferative effect of Lycopene on HGC-27 cells. Materials and methods HGC-27 cells were treated with varying concentration lycopene for 24, 48, 72 h. The cell growth inhibition was analyzed by MTT. Western blotting was used to indicate changes in the levels of LC3-I, LC3-II, ERK (extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase) and phosphorylation-ERK (p-ERK). Results Lycopene displayed antiproliferative activity in HGC-27 cell lines. Western blotting showed that Lycopene significantly enhanced LC3-I, p-ERK proteins expression. In gastric cancer nude mice model, lycopene treatment significantly decreased tumour weight. These findings indicated that lycopene treatment induces the anti-proliferation of HGC-27 cells. Conclusion Lycopene treatment inhibited HGC-27 cells growth by activating ERK.