ATRA and Genistein synergistically inhibit the metastatic potential of human lung adenocarcinoma cells

Objective: This study was to investigate the effects of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in combination with Genistein on the proliferation, expression of apoptosis related proteins and adhesion molecules (MUC1 and ICAM-1) and invasiveness of A549 cells, aiming to investigate whether combined therapy of ATRA and Genistein is superior to monotherapy in suppressing metastasis of lung cancer cells. Methods: ATRA, Genistein and both were used to treat human lung adenocarcinoma cells (A549 cells). Immunohistochemistry was done for MUC1 expression, flow cytometry for ICAM-1 expression, fluorescence quantitative PCR for MUC1 expression and Western blot assay for the expressions of cell cycle related proteins (CDK4, Rb and p-ERK1/2) and apoptosis related proteins (Bax and Bcl-2). Cells were seeded into Matrigel pre-coated Transwell chambers, and the migrating cells were counted. Results: Combined treatment with ATRA and Genistein was able to reduce the expressions of Bcl-2, MUC1 and ICAM-1 and exerted synergistic effects to inhibit the invasion of A549 cells. Conclusion: ATRA and Genistein may synergistically inhibit MUC1 and ICAM-1 expressions and affect the expressions of cell cycle related proteins (CDK4, Rb and pERK1/2) and apoptosis related proteins (Bax and Bcl-2), inhibit the metastatic potential of lung cancer A549 cells.