Combination of Nexrutine and docetaxel suppresses NFκB-mediated activation of c-FLIP

Suppression of FAK by nexrutine inhibits gastric cancer progression

AIM

Nexrutine, an herbal extract of Phellodendron amurense, has been found to play a tumor-suppressive role in many cancers. However, its role in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer remains unclear.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Gastric cancer cells (SGC-7901 and MGC-803) were treated with nexrutine, and cell proliferation, invasion and apoptosis were analyzed. And the MGC-803 cells-derived xenograft mouse models were fed pelleted diet containing 600 mg/kg nexrutine for 21 days after inoculation. Mechanically, we focused on the influences of nexrutine on the levels and activation of STAT3 and NF-κB as well as their upstream regulator FAK. Additionally, we further verified whether nexrutine affected the proliferation, invasion and apoptosis of gastric cancer cells via FAK by upregulating FAK expression before nexrutine treatment.

KEY FINDINGS

We found nexrutine inhibited the viability, invasion, and expression levels of PCNA, CyclinD1 and Bcl-2, promoted the apoptosis and Bax expression, decreased levels of STAT3, phospho-STAT3, NF-κB p65, phospho-p65, FAK and phospho-FAK in gastric cancer cells. Overexpression of FAK reversed the impacts of nexrutine on the levels of STAT3, phospho-STAT3, NF-κB p65, phospho-p65, as well as the malignant characteristics of gastric cancer cells. Moreover, nexrutine suppressed tumor volumes and weights, and decreased expression and phosphorylation of FAK, STAT3 and NF-κB p65 in vivo.

SIGNIFICANCE

Nexrutine inhibited the malignant progression of gastric cancer via negatively regulating STAT3/NF-κB signaling pathway by suppressing FAK expression and activation.

Dietary Compounds for Targeting Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide, and the burden of the disease is increased. Although several chemotherapies have been used, concerns about the side effects have been raised, and development of alternative therapy is inevitable. The purpose of this study is to prove the efficacy of dietary substances as a source of anti-tumor drugs by identifying their carcinostatic activities in specific pathological mechanisms. According to numerous studies, dietary substances were effective through following five mechanisms; apoptosis, anti-angiogenesis, anti-metastasis, microRNA (miRNA) regulation, and anti-multi-drug-resistance (MDR). About seventy dietary substances showed the anti-prostate cancer activities. Most of the substances induced the apoptosis, especially acting on the mechanism of caspase and poly adenosine diphosphate ribose polymerase (PARP) cleavage. These findings support that dietary compounds have potential to be used as anticancer agents as both food supplements and direct clinical drugs.