Induction of apoptosis in human gastric cancer by sodium butyrate.

Background: Novel therapeutic agents are needed in the adjuvant treatment of gastric cancer. The differentiating agent sodium butyrate (NaBT) inhibits the growth of colon cancer cells; its effects on gastric cancers are not known. The purpose of our study was to characterize the effects of NaBT on human gastric cancer.

Material & Methods: The human gastric cancer, SIIA, was treated with NaBT (5 mM) for 12-72 h. Cell number, viability and death were measured. Expression levels of the tumor-suppressor protein, p53, the cell-cycle inhibitors, p21Waf1/Cip1 and p27Kip1, and the pro-apoptotic proteins, Bax, Bak, and Bik, were determined.

Results: NaBT significantly inhibited SIIA gastric cancer cell proliferation in a time-dependent fashion by a process involving the induction of apoptosis. Treatment with NaBT was associated with increased expression levels of p21Waf1/Cip1 p27Kip1, Bax, Bak, and Bik.

Conclusions: NaBT triggers growth arrest and apoptosis in the human gastric cancer SIIA potentially through the induction of the cell-cycle inhibitors, p21Waf1/Cip1 and p27Kip1, and the proapoptotic genes, Bax, Bak, and Bik. NaBT may be an effective adjuvant agent in the treatment of gastric cancer.