Systematic and experimental approaches to indicate anti-tumor biotargets and molecular mechanisms of calycosin against osteosarcoma

Background: Calycosin is reported to pharmacologically combat cancer cells, however, the detailed anti-osteosarcoma (OS) mechanisms remain unclear. By using systemic method of network pharmacology, the present study purposed to reveal the anti-OS biotargets and molecular mechanisms played by calycosin. Moreover, human and animal experiments were used to verify the key biotargets of calycosin combating OS. Results: In OS findings, the blood parameters showed increased tumor markers and OS sections resulted in negatively expressed proteins of tumor protein p53 (TP53), Caspase-3 (CASP3), X-linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein (XIAP). To feature the pharmacological biotargets in a cell line study, calycosin-treated OS cells showed reduced cell proliferation, and promoted cell apoptosis. In TUNEL stains, calycosin resulted in elevated apoptotic cells. As showed in immunostaining, calycosin-treated OS cells suggested elevated TP53, CASP3, XIAP protein expressions. Conclusions: Overall, our present human and cell culture data manifest all candidate and key biotargets, molecular functions and pathways of calycosin combating OS. Attractively, these top biotargets may be used for pharmacological hallmarks to combat OS.