Effects of heme oxygenase-1 on cisplatin chemosensitivity in gastric cancer

Objective: To explore the roles of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and protoporphyrin zinc IX (ZnPPIX), its inhibitor, in cisplatin chemotherapy for gastric cancer so as to provide potential targets for chemosensitivity in gastric cancer. Methods: Gastric cancer cell line SGC7901 was used in vitro. MTT assay was carried out to determine the effects of ZnPPIX and CDDP on the proliferation in gastric cancer cells. The expression of HO-1 in gastric cancer cells was measured by Real-time PCR and Western blot, respectively. The gastric cancer xenografts in nude mice were used to study the effects of ZnPPIX and CDDP in gastric cancer on tumor formation in vivo. Results: The proliferation of cancer cells, interfered by CDDP in combination with ZnPPIX, could be significantly inhibited (P<0.05). Moreover, CDDP could increase the expression of HO-1 in gastric cancer cells, which was reversed by ZnPPIX (P<0.05). The animal experiment showed that CDDP could inhibit gastric cancer growth in nude mice and reduce tumor volume and weight. Conclusion: ZnPPIX could enhance the chemosensitivity of CDDP in gastric cancer, which may be a potential sensitizer of cisplatin-based chemotherapy in gastric cancer.