Effect of a combination of oxaliplatin and fluoropyrimidine derivative molecule S-1 on expression levels of IL-9 and CysLTR-1 in a rat model of colon cancer

Purpose: To investigate the effect of a combination of oxaliplatin and fluoropyrimidine derivative molecule S-1 on the expression levels of IL-9 and CysLTR-1 in rats with colon cancer. Methods: One hundred and eighty healthy Spraque Dawley rats were randomly assigned to groups A (healthy control), B (model), and C (treatment) with 60 rats in each group. Western blotting was used to determine contents of CysLTR-1 and related pathway proteins, while the levels of IL-9 and IFN-γ were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) was used to determine cell proliferation, while cell apoptosis was assessed using flow cytometry. Results: Tumor volume was larger and tumor diameter was longer in group B than in group C (p < 0.05). The expression levels of CysLTR-1, LTD4, β-catenin, COX-2, IL-9 and IFN-γ were significantly up-regulated in groups B and C, relative to group A (p < 0.05). Cell proliferation was also significantly faster in groups B and C than in group A, while apoptotic rate was lower (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Combined use of OX and S-1 inhibits CysLTR-1 expression level in colon cancer rats. Furthermore, it down-regulates IL-9 expression, thereby inhibiting the proliferation and apoptosis of tumor cells. Therefore, the combination treatment has potentials for development as a therapeutic strategy for the management of colon cancer. Keywords: Oxaliplatin; Fluoropyrimidine derivative molecule; Colon cancer; CysLTR-1