Gossypol induces cell death by activating apoptosis and autophagy in HT-29 cells.

Gossypol is a polyphenolic, yellowish compound derived from cottonseed extract. The present study examined the effects of gossypol on the apoptosis and autophagy of HT­29 cells. A Cell Counting Kit­8 assay, Annexin V­FITC, JC­1 staining and western blotting were used to identify the viability of cells, stages of apoptosis and the expression levels of the signaling proteins. Gossypol promoted apoptosis and induced the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Further investigation of the apoptotic mechanism revealed that gossypol increased the ratio of B­cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2)-associated X protein/Bcl­2 protein levels and upregulated the expression of caspase­3. Gossypol also enhanced the activity of microtubule­associated protein light chain 3 LC3­II and Beclin­1 and downregulated LC3­I, in a dose­dependent manner. Together, these finding suggested that gossypol may be a novel and potential antitumor agent.

Efficacy of docetaxel combined with oxaliplatin and fluorouracil against stage III/IV gastric cancer.

AIM: To investigate the clinical efficacy and toxic effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy using docetaxel combined with oxaliplatin and fluorouracil for treating stage III/IV gastric cancer. METHODS: A total of 53 stage III/IV gastric cancer patients were enrolled into the study and treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Two of the cases were excluded. The program was as follows: 75 mg/m(2) docetaxel and 85 mg/m(2) oxaliplatin on day 1 and 1500 mg/m(2) fluorouracil on days 1 to 3 for three weeks. RESULTS: The tumour changes, postoperative remission rate, changes in the symptoms and adverse reactions were observed. The overall clinical efficacy (complete remission + partial remission) of the neoadjuvant chemotherapy was 62.7%. R0 radical resection was performed on 60.8% of the patients, with a remission rate (pathological complete response + pathological subtotal response + pathological partial response) of 74.2%. The Karnofksy score improved in 42 cases. The toxicity reactions mostly included myelosuppression, followed by gastrointestinal mucosal lesions, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. CONCLUSION: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy consisting of docetaxel combined with oxaliplatin and fluorouracil is effective for stage III/IV gastric cancer. However, the treatment is associated with a high incidence of bone marrow suppression, which should be managed clinically.