Cryptotanshinone Inhibites Bladder Cancer Cell Proliferation and Promotes Apoptosis via the PTEN/PI3K/AKT Pathway

Abstract

Cryptotanshinone (CTT), extracted from the root of <i>Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge</i> (Danshen), exhibits activities against a variety of human cancers <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i>. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential inhibitory effect of CTT on bladder cancer. In this study, we found that CTT inhibited bladder cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and promoted apoptosis. In addition, CTT modulated the expression of proteins via the PI3K/AKT pathway, and the inhibition of PI3K/AKT signalling was due to induction of PTEN expression. Taken together, the results of the present study demonstrated the anticancer effect of CTT on bladder cancer cells, which might be associated with the downregulation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR and NF-κB signalling pathway proteins, and this inhibition was mediated by the induction of PTEN.