Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects and mechanisms of action of a new polyoxometalate drug {BiW₈O₃₀} in liver cancer cells. METHODS: Human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line SK-HEP-1 was cultured and treated with 50,100,200 and 400 μmol/L {BiW₈O₃₀} solution,respectively. The control group was given normal culture medium. The corresponding indexes were detected after 24 and 48 h of culture. Cell proliferation assay was used to detect cell viability and half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀);cell colony formation experiment was used to detect number of colony formation;wound healing rate was detected by scratch test;Transwell assay was used to detect the number of invasive cells;the effect of drugs on apoptosis was analyzed by fluorescence staining. RESULTS: After treatment with 50,100,200,400 μmol/L {BiW₈O₃₀} for 24 and 48 h,the survival rate of SK-HEP-1 cells decreased by 29.98%,51.29%,65.81%,83.59% and 31.57%,66.23%,81.88%,83.97%,respectively (P<0.01),compared with the control group. In addition,IC₅₀ were (102.07±1.38) and (74.68±0.91) μmol/L,respectively. After 2 weeks of treatment with 50,100,and 200 μmol/L {BiW₈O₃₀},the number of colony formation of SK-HEP-1 cells decreased by 28.57%,63.27%,and 90.82%,respectively (P<0.01). After treatment with 50,100,200 μmol/L {BiW₈O₃₀} for 24 and 48 h,the scratch healing rate of SK-HEP-1 cells decreased by 8.47%,70.59%,80.83% and 19.56%,65.98%,75.49%,respectively (P<0.01),the number of invaded cells of SK-HEP-1 decreased by 27.74%,45.51%,68.77% and 47.03%,72.20%,84.07% (P<0.01). Observation after fluorescent staining revealed that the liver cancer cells treated with {BiW₈O₃₀} shrank,the nuclei shrank,fragmented,and apoptotic bodies appeared. CONCLUSION: The new polyoxometalate drug {BiW₈O₃₀} was toxic to SK-HEP-1 cancer cells in vitro by inhibiting the proliferation,colony formation,migration and invasion,and by inducing cell apoptosis.

Key words: {BiW₈O₃₀}, hepatocellular carcinoma, SK-HEP-1 cells, anti-tumor effect