Ganoderic acid a potentiates cisplatin’s cytotoxicity on gallbladder cancer cells by promoting DNA damage and inhibiting cell stemness

Abstract Background Ganoderma acid A (GAA), a triterpenoid compound from Ganoderma lucidum, has gained attention for its anti-tumor properties. Herein, we hypothesized that GAA may enhance cisplatin’s (DDP) anticancer effect in gallbladder cancer (GBC) cells by promoting DNA damage response, particu...

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Main Authors: Gan Zhang, Haoming Lan, Jie Wu, Xianfeng Sheng, Linsheng Huang, Meng Zhou, Jun Hu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:World Journal of Surgical Oncology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12957-025-03799-x
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author Gan Zhang
Haoming Lan
Jie Wu
Xianfeng Sheng
Linsheng Huang
Meng Zhou
Jun Hu
author_facet Gan Zhang
Haoming Lan
Jie Wu
Xianfeng Sheng
Linsheng Huang
Meng Zhou
Jun Hu
author_sort Gan Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Ganoderma acid A (GAA), a triterpenoid compound from Ganoderma lucidum, has gained attention for its anti-tumor properties. Herein, we hypothesized that GAA may enhance cisplatin’s (DDP) anticancer effect in gallbladder cancer (GBC) cells by promoting DNA damage response, particularly through upregulation of DNA damage markers such as γH2AX, p-ATM, p-ATR, and p-p53, and reducing cell stemness by downregulating stemness markers like SOX2, Oct4, and NANOG. Materials and methods The human GBC cell line GBC-SD and human gallbladder epithelial cell line HGBEC were cultured in RPMI-1640 and DMEM/F12 media with 10% fetal bovine serum. Cells were treated with 2 µM DDP and 60 µM GAA for 24 h. To evaluate the toxicity of GAA in normal cells, HGBEC cells were treated under the same conditions. Cell viability was assessed by CCK-8 assay, and colony formation was measured in 6-well plates. Apoptosis was evaluated by TUNEL assay, and DNA damage was assessed using comet assay. Stemness was analyzed by spheroid formation and CD44 immunofluorescence staining. Western blot analysis was performed to evaluate the expression of apoptotic, stemness, and DNA damage markers (Bax/Bcl-2, cleaved-caspase 3, SOX2, Oct4, NANOG, γH2AX, p-ATM, p-ATR, p-p53). Results The results showed that GAA significantly reduced GBC-SD cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner (p < 0.05). The combined treatment of GAA and DDP further decreased cell viability, with the DDP IC50 value reduced from 8.98 µM to 4.07 µM (p < 0.05). Colony formation was significantly inhibited (p < 0.05), and apoptosis increased, as assessed by TUNEL assay (p < 0.05). Western blot analysis revealed increased pro-apoptotic proteins Bax/Bcl-2 and cleaved-caspase 3(p < 0.05). The expression of stemness markers SOX2, Oct4, NANOG, and DNA damage markers γH2AX, p-ATM, p-ATR, and p-p53 was significantly altered (p < 0.05). Specifically, p53 expression was significantly increased, indicating enhanced DNA damage response (p < 0.05). Conclusion GAA can significantly enhance the anticancer effects of DDP on GBC cells by inhibiting DNA damage response and cell stemness, supporting GAA as an adjuvant treatment for GBC and warrants further validatory preclinical studies.
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spelling doaj-art-aced15b650164779bbb8e4373c1d86f22025-08-20T02:20:01ZengBMCWorld Journal of Surgical Oncology1477-78192025-04-0123111210.1186/s12957-025-03799-xGanoderic acid a potentiates cisplatin’s cytotoxicity on gallbladder cancer cells by promoting DNA damage and inhibiting cell stemnessGan Zhang0Haoming Lan1Jie Wu2Xianfeng Sheng3Linsheng Huang4Meng Zhou5Jun Hu6Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of MedicineDepartment of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of MedicineDepartment of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of MedicineDepartment of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of MedicineDepartment of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of MedicineDepartment of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of MedicineDepartment of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of MedicineAbstract Background Ganoderma acid A (GAA), a triterpenoid compound from Ganoderma lucidum, has gained attention for its anti-tumor properties. Herein, we hypothesized that GAA may enhance cisplatin’s (DDP) anticancer effect in gallbladder cancer (GBC) cells by promoting DNA damage response, particularly through upregulation of DNA damage markers such as γH2AX, p-ATM, p-ATR, and p-p53, and reducing cell stemness by downregulating stemness markers like SOX2, Oct4, and NANOG. Materials and methods The human GBC cell line GBC-SD and human gallbladder epithelial cell line HGBEC were cultured in RPMI-1640 and DMEM/F12 media with 10% fetal bovine serum. Cells were treated with 2 µM DDP and 60 µM GAA for 24 h. To evaluate the toxicity of GAA in normal cells, HGBEC cells were treated under the same conditions. Cell viability was assessed by CCK-8 assay, and colony formation was measured in 6-well plates. Apoptosis was evaluated by TUNEL assay, and DNA damage was assessed using comet assay. Stemness was analyzed by spheroid formation and CD44 immunofluorescence staining. Western blot analysis was performed to evaluate the expression of apoptotic, stemness, and DNA damage markers (Bax/Bcl-2, cleaved-caspase 3, SOX2, Oct4, NANOG, γH2AX, p-ATM, p-ATR, p-p53). Results The results showed that GAA significantly reduced GBC-SD cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner (p < 0.05). The combined treatment of GAA and DDP further decreased cell viability, with the DDP IC50 value reduced from 8.98 µM to 4.07 µM (p < 0.05). Colony formation was significantly inhibited (p < 0.05), and apoptosis increased, as assessed by TUNEL assay (p < 0.05). Western blot analysis revealed increased pro-apoptotic proteins Bax/Bcl-2 and cleaved-caspase 3(p < 0.05). The expression of stemness markers SOX2, Oct4, NANOG, and DNA damage markers γH2AX, p-ATM, p-ATR, and p-p53 was significantly altered (p < 0.05). Specifically, p53 expression was significantly increased, indicating enhanced DNA damage response (p < 0.05). Conclusion GAA can significantly enhance the anticancer effects of DDP on GBC cells by inhibiting DNA damage response and cell stemness, supporting GAA as an adjuvant treatment for GBC and warrants further validatory preclinical studies.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12957-025-03799-xGanoderic acid ACisplatinGallbladder cancerDNA damage responseCell stemnessApoptosis
spellingShingle Gan Zhang
Haoming Lan
Jie Wu
Xianfeng Sheng
Linsheng Huang
Meng Zhou
Jun Hu
Ganoderic acid a potentiates cisplatin’s cytotoxicity on gallbladder cancer cells by promoting DNA damage and inhibiting cell stemness
World Journal of Surgical Oncology
Ganoderic acid A
Cisplatin
Gallbladder cancer
DNA damage response
Cell stemness
Apoptosis
title Ganoderic acid a potentiates cisplatin’s cytotoxicity on gallbladder cancer cells by promoting DNA damage and inhibiting cell stemness
title_full Ganoderic acid a potentiates cisplatin’s cytotoxicity on gallbladder cancer cells by promoting DNA damage and inhibiting cell stemness
title_fullStr Ganoderic acid a potentiates cisplatin’s cytotoxicity on gallbladder cancer cells by promoting DNA damage and inhibiting cell stemness
title_full_unstemmed Ganoderic acid a potentiates cisplatin’s cytotoxicity on gallbladder cancer cells by promoting DNA damage and inhibiting cell stemness
title_short Ganoderic acid a potentiates cisplatin’s cytotoxicity on gallbladder cancer cells by promoting DNA damage and inhibiting cell stemness
title_sort ganoderic acid a potentiates cisplatin s cytotoxicity on gallbladder cancer cells by promoting dna damage and inhibiting cell stemness
topic Ganoderic acid A
Cisplatin
Gallbladder cancer
DNA damage response
Cell stemness
Apoptosis
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12957-025-03799-x
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