Autophagy inhibition promotes gambogic acid-induced suppression of growth and apoptosis in glioblastoma cells.

Objective: To investigate the effects of gambogic acid (GA) on the growth of human malignant glioma cells.

Methods: U251MG and U87MG human glioma cell lines were treated with GA and growth and proliferation were investigated by MTT and colony formation assays. Cell apoptosis was analyzed by annexin V FITC/PI flow cytometry, mitochondrial membrane potential assays and DAPI nuclear staining.