Objective: To explore the inhibiting effect of superoxide dismutase (SOD) on the growth of hepatocellular cancer cell line HepG2.
Methods: By gene transfer technique, hepatocellular cancer cells (HepG2) were transfected with a retroviral vector containing human CuZnSOD cDNA. The elevated SOD gene expression of the transfected cells was compared with the parental and neo control cells.
Results: Compared to the control cells, cancer cells transfected with SOD gene showed an inhibited cell growth, a reduced number of cells in S phase and decreased clone forming ability in soft agar, as well as a smaller tumor size formed in nude mice.
Conclusion: The overexpression of CuZnSOD gene could, to certain extent, suppress the cell growth of hepatocellular cancer cell line HepG2.