Effect of lentinan combined with docetaxel and cisplatin on the proliferation and apoptosis of BGC823 cells.

We studied the inhibitory effects of lentinan alone or lentinan combined with docetaxel and cisplatin on growth of gastric cancer cell line BGC823. The cells were divided into lentinan group, docetaxel combined with cisplatin group, and lentinan combined with docetaxel and cisplatin group. Gastric cancer cell line BGC823 was treated with different concentrations of drugs in each group. Tetrazolium-based colorimetric assay (MTT), Annexin V/propidium iodide method and flow cytometry were used to determine the proliferation and apoptosis of the cells in each group. The inhibition ratio was positively related with the concentrations of drugs when BGC823 cells were treated with docetaxel combined with cisplatin from low to high dose. The inhibition ratio of each group further increased after lentinan was added into the medium. The apoptosis rate of 6.25 µg/ml lentinan on BGC823 cells was 19.84 %. The apoptosis rate of BGC823 cells was significantly increased from 50.22 % to 72.06 % after treatment with 6.25 µg/ml lentinan combined with 2.5 µg/ml docetaxel and 50 µg/ml cisplatin. Lentinan has an inhibitory effect on the proliferation of gastric cancer cell line BGC823. Lentinan combined with docetaxel and cisplatin increases the inhibitory effect on the proliferation of BGC823 cells mediated by docetaxel combined with cisplatin. Low concentration of lentinan combined with docetaxel and cisplatin has better therapeutic effects on the proliferation of BGC823 cells compared with high concentrations of docetaxel combined with cisplatin. Lentinan has the ability of inducing BGC823 cell apoptosis and this effect is enhanced when combined with docetaxel and cisplatin.