Devazepide suppresses cell proliferation and migration, and induces apoptosis in bladder carcinoma

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to examine the effects of devazepide on the proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of human bladder cancer (BC) 5637 cells, and its mechanism. METHODS: A cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) for cell viability assays, a colony formation assay, and immunofluorescence were applied to detect the effects of devazepide on the proliferation of 5637 cells. Cell cycle assay, cell apoptosis assay and wound healing assay were performed to detect the effects of devazepide on the cell cycle, apoptosis, and migration of 5637 cells. The protein expression of CyclinD1, Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), poly ADP-ribose polymerase 1 (PARP1), and Cleaved Caspase-3 in 5637 cells was detected by a western blot assay. RESULTS: The proliferation of 5637 cells was significantly inhibited (P<0.001) after incubation with 12, 25, and 50 µM devazepide for 48 and 72 h. A treatment of 25 µM devazepide for 48 h induced G1–S cell cycle arrest and apoptosis (P<0.01), and inhibited cell migration (P<0.05). By western blot assay, we found that devazepide can down-regulate CyclinD1 expression, and up-regulate Bax, PARP1, and Cleaved Caspase-3 expression. CONCLUSIONS: Devazepide inhibits the migration and proliferation of human BC 5637 cells by arresting the G1–S cell cycle, and induces cell apoptosis.