Abstract:Objective To investigate the effect of interfering cathepsin F (CTSF) expression on the proliferation of gastric carcinoma HGC-27 cells in tumor-bearing nude mice. Methods Thirty Balb/c nude mice were injected subcutaneously with HGC-27 cells to establish tumor-forming models,which were randomly divided into control group,cisplatin group and combination group (n=10,each).Cisplatin injection was given in cisplatin group;CTSF short hairpin RNA (CTSF-shRNA)lentivirus vector was used to interfere with CTSF expression in combination group based on the same cisplatin treatment;the same dose of normal saline was given in control group.Treatment regime was continued for 4 weeks in three groups.The tumor volume,vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and apoptosis were observed and recorded in three groups. Results At 2nd and 4th week after treatment,there were significant differences in tumor volume,relative expression levels of CTSF,VEGF mRNA and protein by pairwise comparison,which statistically decreased in the order of control group,cisplatin group and combination group (P<0.01,P<0.05),and the apoptosis index in tumor tissues increased statistically in the order of control group,cisplatin group and combination group (P<0.01,P<0.05). Conclusion Compared with cisplatin alone,interfering CTSF expression combined with cisplatin have more advantages in inhibiting the proliferation of HGC-27 cells and VEGF expression and promoting apoptosis of tumor cell in tumor bearing nude mice with better anti-tumor effect.