Ovatodiolide suppresses nasopharyngeal cancer by targeting stem cell-like population, inducing apoptosis, inhibiting EMT and dysregulating JAK/STAT signaling pathway

Shao Cheng Liu, Chih Ming Huang, Oluwaseun Adebayo Bamodu, Chun Shu Lin, Bing Lan Liu, Yew Min Tzeng, Jo Ting Tsai, Wei Hwa Lee, Tsung Ming Chen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Treatment for metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is challenging. Till now, a truly effective chemotherapy regimen for NPC has not yet been identified. These clinical observations prompted us to investigate a potential drug as alternative option for treating. Purpose: This study evaluated the inhibitory effects of Ovatodiolide (Ova), on tumorigenic and cancer stem cell characteristics of NPC cells. Methods: Two NPC cell lines (NPC-BM1 and NPC-BM2) were used to examine the anticancer effects of Ova and the molecular mechanism underlying these activities by using sulforhodamine B cytotoxicity assay, western blot, immunofluorescence, migration, colony and tumorsphere formation assays. Results: Ova significantly inhibited the viability of BM1 and BM2 cells, downregulated Bcl-xL and Puma, and upregulated Bax/Bad expression levels. Ova dose-dependent suppressed migratory/invasive potential of NPC cells, and reduced ability to form colonies. Ova-induced apoptosis correlated with increased Bax/Bcl-xL ratio while NPC motility and colony formation inhibition were associated with reduced expression of p-FAK, p-PXN, F-actin, and Slug proteins and increased E-cadherin. Furthermore, ova inhibited NPC tumorsphere formation, associated with decreased SOX2, OCT4 and JAK-STAT signaling pathway. Ova also attenuated NPC stem cell tumorigenicity, inhibited tumor growth, and enhanced the sensitivity of NPC cells to cisplatin treatment, in vivo. Conclusions: Our results demonstrated the anticancer efficacy of Ova in NPC and its potential as a putative inhibitor of JAK2 and STAT3, which are essential in tumorigenesis of NPC. Further development of Ova is encouraged.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)269-278
Number of pages10
JournalPhytomedicine
Volume56
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 15 2019

Keywords

  • Cancer stem cell
  • Chemoresistance
  • JAK-STAT pathway
  • Nasopharyngeal carcinoma
  • Ovatodiolide

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Medicine
  • Pharmacology
  • Pharmaceutical Science
  • Drug Discovery
  • Complementary and alternative medicine

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