2-Hydroxy-3-methylanthraquinone inhibits lung carcinoma cells through modulation of IL-6-induced JAK2/STAT3 pathway.

Background: 2-hydroxy-3-methylanthraquinone (HMA), an anthraquinone monomer in traditional Chinese medicine Hedyotis diffusa, has been reported to inhibit the growth of several types of cancer, but its effect on lung cancer has not been adequately investigated.

Hypothesis/purpose: This study aimed to test the hypothesis that HMA inhibit the growth, migration, and invasion of lung cancer cells in part via downregulation of interleukin (IL)-6-induced JAK2/STAT3 pathway.

Methods: Growth and apoptosis of lung cancer cells were quantitated by CCK-8 assay and Annexin V-FITC/PI flow cytometric analysis, respectively.