Ginsenoside CK Inhibits the Proliferation of Small Cell  Lung Cancer Cells and Induces G2/M Cell Cycle Arrest and  Apoptosis via the ATM/ATR Signaling Pathway

Ginsenoside CK Inhibits the Proliferation of Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells and Induces G2/M Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis via the ATM/ATR Signaling Pathway

Paison Faida^1.2,4, Jing Zhao^1,2, Linlin Qu^1,2, Ying He³, Janvier Habumugisha⁵, Xiaoxuan Ma^1,2, Rong Huang³, Daidi Fan^1,2

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¹ Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Degradable Biomedical Materials and Shaanxi R&D Center of Biomaterials and Fermentation Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Shaanxi, China

² Biotechnology & Biomedical Research Institute, Northwest University, Shaanxi, China

³ Shaanxi Giant Biotechnology Ltd, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China

⁴ Faculty of Education, Kigali Independent University, Kigali, Rwanda

⁵ Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan

EJMO 2024, 8(4), 471–487; https://doi.org/10.14744/ejmo.2024.39659

© Invalid date by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution -Noncommercial 4.0 International License (CC-by the license) ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ )

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Abstract

Objectives: To explore the anti-tumor effect of Ginsenoside compound K (CK) on small cell lung cancer (SCLC). To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of CK's effects on SCLC.

Methods: Investigation through MTT, cell colony formation assays, and AO/EB staining to assess CK’s effect on cell proliferation. Propidium iodide (PI), Annexin V/PI staining, TUNEL assay, and western blotting to analyze CK-induced DNA damage, G2/M arrest, and apoptosis in SCLC cells. A xenograft nude mice model to evaluate the in vivo effect of CK on tumor growth.

Results: CK effectively inhibits the proliferation of SCLC cells in vitro. CK induces DNA damage, G2/M cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis in SCLC cells in a dose-dependent manner. The anti-tumor effects of CK are mediated primarily through the ATM/ATR signaling pathway. In a xenograft model, CK treatment significantly inhibits tumor growth without causing notable side effects.

Conclusion: This study provides the first evidence of CK’s anti-cancer efficacy in SCLC. The findings suggest that CK could be a promising therapeutic approach for SCLC, opening up new opportunities for ginsenosides in lung cancer treatment.

Keywords

Anti-cancer effect

apoptosis

ATM/ATR

ginsenoside compound K (CK)

small cell lung cancer

xenograft model

Conflict of interest

The authors declare they have no competing interests.

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