Apatinib exerts anti-tumour effects on ovarian cancer cells.
OBJECTIVE
Apatinib, a small molecule inhibitor of VEGFR-2 tyrosine kinase, shows strong anti-tumour activity against various tumours. The function of apatinib in ovarian cancer, however, remains unclear. This study was conducted to investigate the effects and potential mechanisms by which apatinib modulates the biological function of ovarian cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.


METHODS
The effects of apatinib on ovarian cancer cells were determined by assessing cell viability, migration and invasion. The cell cycle distribution and apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells were analysed using flow cytometry. Western blotting was performed to determine the levels of signalling pathway markers. A mouse xenograft model was used to evaluate the efficacy of apatinib in preventing tumour growth.


RESULTS
Apatinib did not appreciably affect ovarian cancer cell proliferation and vitality, but did inhibit ovarian cancer cell migration. Apatinib suppressed the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in ovarian cancer cells by inhibiting the JAK/STAT3, PI3K/AKT and Notch signalling pathways. Apatinib effectively inhibited tumour growth in vivo.


CONCLUSION
Based on our findings, apatinib is a highly potent, orally active anti-angiogenic and anti-ovarian cancer agent.
['Ding|Jing|J|', 'Cheng|Xiao-Yan|XY|', 'Liu|Shuang|S|', 'Ji|Hong-Ying|HY|', 'Lin|Mu|M|', 'Ma|Rong|R|', 'Meng|Fan-Ling|FL|']
D000818:Animals D000970:Antineoplastic Agents D017209:Apoptosis D000077216:Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial D045744:Cell Line, Tumor D002465:Cell Movement D049109:Cell Proliferation D005260:Female D006801:Humans D051379:Mice D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C D008819:Mice, Nude D011725:Pyridines D011897:Random Allocation D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
Apatinib Ovarian cancer Signalling pathway Cell migration Epithelial-mesenchymal transition