Synergistic effect of oxymatrine and 5-fluorouracil on the migratory potential in A549 non-small cell lung cancer cells

Abstract

Introduction: An interesting research direction is the development of new therapies to reduce metastasis, especially in highly invasive cancer such as lung cancer. One of the commonly used anti-cancer drugs is 5-fluorouracil. Oxymatrine is a natural alkaloid with a wide range of effects. Combined with a cytostatic, it may enhance its action and protect normal cells. Therefore, the study aimed to analyse the effect of oxymatrine and 5-fluorouracil on non-small lung cancer cell line A549. Material and methods: The study was based on the assessment of the interaction between drugs, cell death, cell cycle phase distribution, fluorescent labelling of F-actin and b-catenin, as well as wound healing and transwell migration assay. Results: The combined treatment with oxymatrine and the cytostatic in a 1:1 ratio resulted in synergism. Incubation of cells with both substances induced changes in the life processes of A549 cells. In turn, the reorganization of F-actin and b-catenin contributed to the limitation of lung cancer cell migration compared to individual treatment with compounds. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the combination of oxymatrine and 5-fluorouracil in the 1:1 ratio may limit the migratory potential of A549 cells. In summary, oxymatrine can support the anti-cancer effect of 5-fluorouracil, but its potential application should be examined in further studies.