Rottlerin promotes autophagy and apoptosis in gastric cancer cell lines

It is widely accepted that apoptosis is closely associated with cancer cell death. However, whether autophagy induces tumor cell death has not been fully elucidated. Various studies have discussed the antitumor properties of rottlerin in human malignancies. The current study aimed to investigate the effects of rottlerin, a natural product isolated from the kamala tree (Mallotus philipensis), on growth inhibition and autophagy in gastric cancer (GC) cell lines in vitro. The results of the present study demonstrated that rottlerin suppressed cell growth, induced autophagy and apoptosis, and reduced migration and invasion in the SGC-7901 and MGC-803 GC cell lines. Furthermore, rottlerin led to microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3β-II augmentation and the enrichment of autophagosomes. In addition, the protein expression levels of mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase and S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 were downregulated in GC cells following rottlerin treatment, which is associated with autophagy. The protein levels of caspase-3, cleaved-caspase-3, total poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and cleaved-PARP exhibited no marked alterations in the GC cells following rottlerin treatment, indicating that caspases were likely not involved in rottlerin-induced GC apoptosis. In summary, the results of the present study indicate that rottlerin may inhibit invasion and promote apoptosis in GC cells, which may be mediated by the activation of autophagy. Therefore, rottlerin may be of value in the treatment of GC.