Effects of EGCG on the cell proliferation, apoptosis and expressions of survivin and VEGF in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line CNE-2

Objective To study the effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on the proliferation, apoptosis and expressions of survivin and VEGF in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line CNE-2. Methods Nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells was cultured in vitro, after treated with various concentrations of EGCG, the cell proliferation ability was detected by MTT; Apoptosis of cells was observed by Hoechst staining with apoptosis rate counted;Flow cytometry was used to analyze the changes of cell cycle. RT-PCR was applied to detect the expression of survivin and VEGF. Results EGCG could effectively inhibit the growth of CNE-2 cells, arrest the cells in G1 phase in a dose-dependent manner and induce cell apoptosis. Furthermore, EGCG could down-regulate the expressions of survivin and VEGF after treated with EGCG. Conclusions EGCG could significiantly suppress the proliferation and induce apoptosis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line CNE-2; The possible mechanisms may be involved with decreasing the expressions of survivin and VEGF.