Combined effects of vitamin D and neferine on the progression and metastasis of colorectal cancer

PURPOSE: To investigate the synergistic effect of vitamin D and neferine on the growth and metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: The synergistic effect of biologically active form of vitamin D, VD(3) and neferine on the treatment of CRC was investigated by bliss analysis. Colony formation and wound healing ability, migration and invasion ability, and epithelial mesenchymal transition of HCT-116 cells, as a response to the combination treatment with VD(3) and neferine were evaluated. RESULTS: VD(3) and neferine showed a synergistic effect on CRC cell growth at a relatively low dose. The wound healing and colony formation capacity, cell migration and invasion abilities were all decreased by combination use of VD(3) and neferine, compared to the VD(3) or neferine treated single group. Furthermore, VD(3) and neferine significantly decreased the expressions of N-cadherin, vimentin, snail, and slug in HCT-116 cells. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that neferine enhances the anticancer capability of VD(3) and reduces the dose dependency of VD(3). The combination of vitamin D with neferine appears to be a potential therapeutic strategy for CRC.