Gastric cancer proliferation and invasion is reduced by macrocalyxin C via activation of the miR-212-3p/Sox6 Pathway.

Gastric cancer is a malignancy of very poor prognosis and survival rates. Macrocalyxin C is a Chinese herb-derived diterpenoid compound that has been postulated to possess anti-cancer characteristics. Gastic cell viability and stage of cell cycle were assessed using CCK8 assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Cell migration and invation were assessed using the wound healing and Transwell assays. Rate of apoptosis was determined via AV/PI-staining. Athymic nude mice xenograft models were used to evaluate the in vivo efficacy of macrocalyxin C. Western blot, luciferase experiments, cell transfection and real-time PCR allowed further study into the activation of the miR-212-3p/Sox6 pathway during macrocalyxin C treatment. We conclude that macrocalyxin C may halt the proliferation of gastric malignancies through alteration of cell invasion, apoptosis, progression through the cell cycle and cell growth. The macrocalyxin C→miR-212-3p┤Sox6 signal pathway was identified to be involved in Sox6 attenuation through augmentation of miR-212-3p values.