TY - JOUR T1 - Scutellarin Sensitizes Drug-evoked Colon Cancer Cell Apoptosis through Enhanced Caspase-6 Activation JF - Anticancer Research JO - Anticancer Res SP - 3043 LP - 3047 VL - 29 IS - 8 AU - JASON YONGSHENG CHAN AU - BENNY KWONG HUAT TAN AU - SHAO CHIN LEE Y1 - 2009/08/01 UR - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/29/8/3043.abstract N2 - Background: We have reported that resveratrol (RSV) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) evoked apoptosis through caspase-6 activation in wild-type (p53+/+) and knockout (p53-/-) HCT116 human colon cancer cells. In this study, we investigated the sensitization effects of scutellarin (SC), a compound isolated from the traditional Chinese herb Erigeron breviscapus, on RSV and 5-FU-evoked apoptosis of these cancer cells. Materials and Methods: The drug-induced apoptosis was qualified by TUNEL staining under fluorescence microscopy, before being quantified by propiodium iodide staining through flow cytometric assay. Results: SC (100 μM) sensitized RSV- (200 μM) and 5-FU (500 μM)-evoked apoptosis in p53+/+ but not p53-/- cells. RSV- and 5-FU-elicited caspase-6 activation was promoted by SC in a time-dependent manner. SC itself did not trigger apoptosis or caspase-6 activation at the concentration tested. Conclusion: SC is a novel sensitizing agent for both RSV- and 5-FU-evoked apoptosis, through the enhancement of caspase-6 activation in a p53-dependent manner. ER -