Enhancement of Cytotoxicity of Fluorouracil by Rosiglitazone in Colon Cancer

Objective To investigate the enhancenment of cytotoxicity of fluorouracil on human colon cancer by rosiglitazone. Methods Human colon cancer (HT-29) cells were cultured in vitro. HT-29 cell line was treated with various concentrations of Rosiglitazone or 5-Fu or both, cell proliferation was evaluated by MTT assay, Trypan blue exclusion method was used to test the influence of growth curve in HT-29 cells. The apoptosis of HT-29 cells was determined by PI staining flow cytometry and cell cycle was analyzed by using flow cytometry. Results Rosiglitazone significantly increased proliferation and growth inhibitoty effect of 5-Fu to HT-29 cells at 1.5μmol/L. PI staining flow cytometry data showed the apoptosis of HT-29 cells was induced and cell cycle was arrested at G1 stage by rosiglitazone;rosiglitazone (1.0μmol/L) significantly promoted apoptosis inducation of HT-29 cells by 5-Fu. Conclusions Rosiglitazone can enhance growth inhibition and apoptosis inducation of 5-Fu on HT-29 cells. The effect of chemosenitization to 5-Fu of rosiglitazone are associated with apoptosis and cell cycle arrested at G1 stage of HT-29 cells.