Inhibitory Action of a Xanthono-pyridine Derivative XP-16 on Human Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma CNE Cells in vitro

MTT assay,morphological examination and colonial assay were applied to evaluate the antiproliferative effect of a new xanthono-pyridine derivative(XP-16) on human nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE cells;Hoechest 33258/PI double staining,flow cytometry,spectrofluorimetry and RT-PCR were also employed to investigate its possible action mechanism.The experiment results showed that XP-16 could inhibit the proliferation of CNE cells in dose- and time-dependent manner.Typical apoptotic morphology such as chromatin aggregation and nuclear fragmentation was observed in XP-16 treated CNE cells for 24 h in a dose-dependent manner.After treated with XP-16,CNE cells were blocked in G2-M and S phases,mitochondria membrane potential of the cells was decreased,relative Bad and MT-1A mRNA level was up-regulated.The apoptosis of CNE cells inducing by XP-16 might be associated with decreasing mitochondria membrane potential and up-regulating MT-1A.