β-elemene regulates epithelial-mesenchymal transformation and inhibits invasion and metastasis of colorectal cancer cells

Abstract Objectives To study the inhibitory effect of β-elemene on invasion and metastasis of colorectal cancer cells and its possible mechanism. Methods Human colon cancer HCT116 cells were treated with different concentrations of β-elemene. The proliferation inhibition rate of the cells was detected by MTT assay, cell migration rate was detected by scratched assay, and cell invasion rate was evaluated by Transwell cell invasion assay. The expressions of Vimentin, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and β-catenin were detected by Western blotting. The mRNA expressions of Vimentin, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and β-catenin were detected by real-time PCR. Results Compared with the control group, the expressions of migration rate, invasion rate, scratch healing rate, N-cadherin, and Vimentin protein of HCT116 cells were decreased after β-elemene treatment, while the expression of E-cadherin protein was increased, and the inhibition rate of cell proliferation was increased (p<0.05). Conclusions β-elemene may inhibit cell proliferation and invasion and metastasis by inhibiting EMT signaling pathway in human colon cancer cell line HCT116.