Inhibitory effects of maslinic acid upon human esophagus, stomach and pancreatic cancer cells

Apoptotic, anti-invasive and anti-migratory effects of maslinic acid (MA) at 4, 8, or 16 μM in human esophageal squamous cancer cell line, OE33; gastric cancer cell line, SGC-7901; and pancreatic cancer cell line, Panc-1, were examined. MA treatments inhibited OE33 and SGC-7901 cells growth at 21-66% and 32-75%, respectively; but lowered Panc-1 viability at 13-27% only. MA treatments increased cleaved caspase-3 and Bax expression, and raised caspase-3 and caspase-8 activities in OE33 and SGC-7901 cells. MA treatments also increased DNA fragmentation and decreased reactive oxygen species production in these two cell lines. MA treatments declined invasion and migration in OE33 and SGC-7901 cells, and lowered vascular endothelial growth factor and transforming growth factor-beta1 levels in these cells. MA suppressed hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 expression in OE33 and SGC-7901 cells. These findings indicated that this triterpene was a potent agent against esophagus and stomach cancers.