Tanshinone IIA decreases the migratory ability of AGS cells by decreasing the protein expression of matrix metalloproteinases, nuclear factor κB-p65 and cyclooxygenase-2.

During progression of gastric cancer, degradation of the extracellular matrix by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) has been associated with poor prognosis. Tanshinone IIA (Tan-IIA) exerts antitumor activity in a variety of human cancer cells. It is extracted from Danshen (Salviae miltiorrhizae radix), and induces apoptosis and inhibits the proliferation of gastric cancer cells. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the inhibition of migration in gastric cancer by Tan-IIA have not been fully elucidated. In the present study, AGS cell migration ability was evaluated using a wound-healing assay. The protein expression levels of nuclear factor (NF)-κB-p65, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, MMP-2, -7, and -9 and β-actin in AGS cells were measured by western blotting. The results demonstrated that AGS cells treated with Tan-IIA exhibit decreased protein expression levels of NF-κB-p65, COX-2, and MMP-2, -7 and -9. The results also indicate that Tan-IIA inhibits migration ability in a dose- and time-dependent manner. These findings demonstrate that Tan-IIA inhibits the migration ability of AGS human gastric cancer cells and that decreasing the protein expression of NF-κB-p65, COX-2, and MMP-2, -7 and -9 may be an underlying molecular mechanism.