Proliferation Inhibition Induced by Arsenic Trioxide on Human Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cell Line CNE1

Objective To observes the effect of proliferation inhibition of arsenic trioxide on human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line CNE1 and understand its mechanism.Methods Human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line CNE1 was treated with different concentration As 2O 3.The MTT assay was used to observe the proliferation status.The cell cycle was detected by the flow cytometry (FCM).The immunohistochemical staining method was used to measure the percentage of proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) positive cell.Results As 2O 3 could significantly inhibit the growth of CNE1 cell,the IC 50 value of 24 h,48 h and 72 h were 3 12,0 65 and 0 12 μg/mL respectively.FCM showed that G 2/M phase gradually increased in the cell cycles.This effect was dose and time dependent.The percentage of PCNA positive cell decreased gradually when concentration of As 2O 3 increased.Conclusions Arsenic trioxide could inhibit the proliferation activity of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line CNE1.Reduction of PCNA,which was related to the regulation of DNA synthesis and cell proliferation,might be the mechanism of this proliferation inhibition.