Effects and Mechanism of Imatinib in Inhibiting Colon Cancer Cell Proliferation

BACKGROUND This study investigated the effects and mechanism of imatinib in inhibiting colon cancer cell proliferation. MATERIAL AND METHODS The SW480 cells were divided into 4 imatinib-treated groups: 0 μM, 1.25 μM, 2.5 μM, and 5μM. We analyzed the apoptosis and cell cycle of the 4 groups. The gene and protein expressions of p21, p27, HGF, and GAPDH were measured by RT-PCR and Western blot. RESULTS Compared with the 0-μM imatinib-treated group, the apoptosis of 1.25-μM, 2.5-μM, and 5.0-μM treated groups was significantly induced (P<0.05, all). The G1 phase was significantly up-regulated in the 1.25-μM, 2.5-μM, and 5.0-μM treated groups compared with the 0-μM imatinib-treated group (P<0.05, respectively), but the S and G2 phase of 3 imatinib-treated groups were significantly down-regulated (P<0.05, all). The gene and protein expressions of p27 and HGF were significantly different among the 4 groups (P<0.05, all). CONCLUSIONS Imatinib inhibits proliferation of colon cancer cells by reducing HGF and increasing p27 in a dose-dependent manner.