Sauchinone inhibits hypoxia-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway

Modulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 signaling pathways in cancer angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis by natural compounds: a comprehensive and critical review

Tumor cells employ multiple signaling mediators to escape the hypoxic condition and trigger angiogenesis and metastasis. As a critical orchestrate of tumorigenic conditions, hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is responsible for stimulating several target genes and dysregulated pathways in tumor invasion and migration. Therefore, targeting HIF-1 pathway and cross-talked mediators seems to be a novel strategy in cancer prevention and treatment. In recent decades, tremendous efforts have been made to develop multi-targeted therapies to modulate several dysregulated pathways in cancer angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis. In this line, natural compounds have shown a bright future in combating angiogenic and metastatic conditions. Among the natural secondary metabolites, we have evaluated the critical potential of phenolic compounds, terpenes/terpenoids, alkaloids, sulfur compounds, marine- and microbe-derived agents in the attenuation of HIF-1, and interconnected pathways in fighting tumor-associated angiogenesis and invasion. This is the first comprehensive review on natural constituents as potential regulators of HIF-1 and interconnected pathways against cancer angiogenesis and metastasis. This review aims to reshape the previous strategies in cancer prevention and treatment.

Sauchinone inhibits the proliferation, migration and invasion of breast cancer cells by suppressing Akt-CREB-MMP13 signaling pathway

Sauchinone, a lignan isolated from Saururus chinenesis, is known to exhibit anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects. Recently, sauchinone has been reported to inhibit the growth of various cancer cells, but its effects on breast cancer cells remain poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the effects of sauchinone on the growth of breast cancer cells along with the underlying molecular mechanisms. Our results show that sauchinone treatment markedly inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of breast cancer cells. Sauchinone reduced the phosphorylation of Akt, ERK, and CREB increased by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). In particular, sauchinone treatment suppressed the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13 (MMP13) by regulating the Akt-CREB signaling pathway. Sauchinone was less effective in inhibiting cell migration in Mmp13-knockdown cells than in control cells, suggesting that MMP13 may be a novel target for sauchinone. Our study suggests that sauchinone inhibits the growth of breast cancer cells by attenuating the Akt-CREB-MMP13 pathway. In addition, the targeted inhibition of MMP13 by sauchinone represents a promising approach for the treatment of breast cancer.

Sauchinone inhibits hypoxia-induced invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in osteosarcoma cells via inactivation of the sonic hedgehog pathway

Hypoxia is a typical feature of solid tumors and is closely associated with tumor progression. Sauchinone, a biologically diastereomeric lignan, is isolated from the root of Saururus chinensis and has been widely used for the treatment of various diseases. Recently, sauchinone has been reported to play an anti-cancer role in cancer development under normoxia or hypoxia. However, the specific effects of sauchinone on osteosarcoma (OS) remain unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of sauchinone in OS progression under hypoxic conditions. The human OS cell lines U2OS and MG-63 were exposed to hypoxia followed by treatment with sauchinone. Cell viability was assessed by the CCK-8 assay. Cell migration and invasion were detected by transwell assays. The expression levels of VEGF, HIF-1α, E-cadherin and N-cadherin were examined by the western blot analysis. Our study showed that OS cell migration and invasion were significantly enhanced by hypoxia. Besides, hypoxic conditions resulted in a remarkable change in the expression of EMT markers. All these effects induced by hypoxia were abrogated by sauchinone treatment. Moreover, sauchinone inhibited hypoxia-induced activation of the sonic hedgehog (Shh) pathway. Additionally, the Shh agonist reversed the inhibitory effect of sauchinone on hypoxia-induced invasion and EMT of OS cells. In conclusion, these findings demonstrated that sauchinone inhibits hypoxia-induced invasion and EMT in OS cells via inactivation of the Shh pathway. We provided a novel insight for understanding the mechanisms underlying the anti-cancer effect of sauchinone and suggested sauchinone as a promising agent for OS treatment.