Lethal effect of a hyperthermic CO2 pneumoperitoneum on gastric cancer cells

SummaryObjectivesWe investigated the lethal effect of a hyperthermic CO2 pneumoperitoneum on gastric cancer cells. This could form the theoretical basis for further studies of the feasibility and safety of inflating hyperthermic CO2 in the abdominal cavity of gastric cancer patients during laparoscopy.MethodsAn in vitro hyperthermic CO2 pneumoperitoneum experimental model was built, where gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901 cells were grouped according to temperature. Cytotoxicity was detected using a cell counting kit; apoptosis was detected by Annexin V-FITC/PI flow cytometry and Hoechst 33342/PI fluorescent microscopy. Morphological alterations were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Invasion and migration were detected by a scratch test and by transwell migration, respectively.ResultsCytotoxicity assays showed that a hyperthermic CO2 pneumoperitoneum significantly inhibited the proliferation of SGC-7901 cells (P < 0.05); it also significantly induced apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells (P < 0.05). Morphological observations showed that the cell membrane and nucleus had an apoptotic phenotype. The invasiveness and migration ability of the gastric cancer cells subjected to hyperthermic CO2 were significantly reduced.ConclusionsA hyperthermic CO2 pneumoperitoneum had a lethal effect on gastric cancer SGC-7901cells by inhibiting their invasion and migration, and by inducing apoptosis.