Page 108 - D. Cancer biology

[D. Cancer biology-69]

Ginsenoside Rh3 inhibits epithelial mesenchymal transition

(EMT) in neuroblastoma cells

Jung-Mi Oh¹˙², Sungkun Chun¹˙²

¹Department of Physiology, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, jeonju 54907, South Korea, ²Brain Korea

21 Plus Program, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju 54907, South Korea

The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an important factor in neuroblastoma metastasis, which targeting
EMT is a potential therapeutic strategy. Malignant neuroblastoma has poor prognosis because existing

chemotherapeutic drugs are not effective. In this study, we investigated minor ginsenoside Rh3 inhibits EMT and

invasion in neuroblastoma cell lines. We found that Rh3 treatment (0, 10, 20, and 30 μM) inhibited cell migration
and invasion by wound-healing and transwell assays. Rh3 significantly altered EMT marker proteins with increased
E-cadherin, but decreased Snail, N-cadherin, Slug and Vimentin expression. Rh3 also down-regulated survivin gene

and protein expression in neuroblastoma cells by qPCR, Western blot and immunofluorescence. After survivin down-
regulated with siRNA, Rh3 induced apoptosis was obviously promoted. RNA interference of survivin was found to

be a potent inhibitor of neuroblastoma cells growth and metastasis formation. Also, Rh3 inhibits EMT and invasion
of neuroblastoma by down-regulating survivin. These result suggest that combination therapy with Rh3 and

knockdown of survivin may be a potentially effective agent for the treatment of neuroblastoma