Abstract: Objective To study the growth inhibition and apoptosis-inducing effects of vitamin E succinate(VES) in human gastric carcinoma cells in vitro. Methods Cultured human gastric carcinoma cells were used as tumor model. MTT method was applied to detect the growth inhibition effect of VES in human gastric cancer cells. Apoptosis induced by VES treatment was detected by using Annexin-V-FITC assay. Protein expressions of Bcl-2, Bak, caspase-9 and caspase-3 were explored by Western blotting method. Results Treatment with 12.5~50 μmol/L VES for 24 h inhibited human gastric carcinoma SGC-7901 cells growth in a dose-dependent manner. The results of Annexin-V-FITC indicated that 50 μmol/L VES treatment for 12 h induced apoptosis in gastric cancer cell in a time-dependent manner. Besides, the regulation effects of VES on the protein expression of Bcl-2 and Bak with the cleavage and activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3 were proved by Western blotting assay. Conclusion VES inhibited human gastric carcinoma SGC-7901 cells growth and induced apoptosis with the regulation of Bcl-2, Bak protein expression and cleavage of caspase-9 and caspase-3.

Key words: vitamin E succinate, apoptosis, human gastric carcinoma cells