Objective: To investigate the practicability of proglumide to treat gastric cancer.
Methods: MKN45 gastric cancer cell line was cultured and the effects on gastrin and gastrin receptor antagonist proglumide proliferative rate, cell dynamic cycle distribution and the concentration of cAMP in the cells were observed in vitro.
Results: Gastrin promoted the proliferation of MKN45 cells and shifted cells from phase G(0)/G(1) to phase S, G(2)/M as well as increased intracellular cAMP, while proglumide blocked these effects.
Conclusions: Gastrin induces the proliferation and synthesis of DNA by its receptor. Proglumide may provide a new approach of non-cytotoxic treatment of gastric cancer.