2--hydroxychalcone and Breast-Neoplasms

Breast cancer is estimated as one of the most common causes of cancer death among women. In particular, triple negative breast cancers (TNBCs), which do not express the genes for estrogen/progesterone receptors (ER/PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), have been associated with poor prognosis and metastasis. Chalcones, the biosynthetic precursors of flavonoids present in edible plants, exert cytotoxic and chemopreventive activities. Although mounting evidence suggests the anticancer properties of chalcones, limited information is available regarding the inhibitory effects of chalcones on the aggressiveness of breast cancer cells. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of chalcone and its derivatives on the growth and the invasiveness of TNBC cells. Here, we showed that treatment with chalcone, 2-hydroxychalcone, and xanthohumol for 24h inhibited the growth of MDA-MB-231 cells with IC50 values of 18.1, 4.6, and 6.7 μM, respectively. Similarly, Chalcone, 2-hydroxychalcone, and xanthohumol also exerted cytotoxicity in another TNBC cell line, Hs578T. Neohesperidin dihydrochalcone, 4-methoxychalcone, and hesperidin methylchalcone did not show the cytotoxicity on the MDA-MB-231 cells. Xanthohumol and 2-hydroxychalcone induced apoptosis by Bcl-2 downregulation. Importantly, 2-hydroxychalcone and xanthohumol exerted more potent inhibitory effects on the proliferation, MMP-9 expression and invasive phenotype of MDA-MB-231 than chalcone. These results suggest a potential application of these chalcones as anticancer agents that can alleviate malignant progression of TNBC.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Breast Neoplasms; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Survival; Chalcones; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Female; Flavonoids; Humans; Mice; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Propiophenones; Receptor, ErbB-2; Receptors, Estrogen; Receptors, Progesterone

Breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP/ABCG2) belongs to the ATP binding cassette family of transport proteins. BCRP has been found to confer multidrug resistance in cancer cells. A strategy to overcome resistance due to BCRP overexpression is the investigation of potent and specific BCRP inhibitors. The aim of the current study was to investigate different multi-substituted chalcones for their BCRP inhibition. We synthesized chalcones and benzochalcones with different substituents (viz. OH, OCH(3), Cl) on ring A and B of the chalcone structure. All synthesized compounds were tested by Hoechst 33342 accumulation assay to determine inhibitory activity in MCF-7 MX and MDCK cells expressing BCRP. The compounds were also screened for their P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and Multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1) inhibitory activity in the calcein AM accumulation assay and were found to be selective towards inhibition of BCRP. Substituents at position 2' and 4' on chalcone ring A were found to be essential for activity; additionally there was a great influence of substituents on ring B. Presence of 3,4-dimethoxy substitution on ring B was found to be optimal, while presence of 2- and 4-chloro substitution also showed a positive effect on BCRP inhibition.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2; ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; Breast Neoplasms; Cell Line, Tumor; Chalcones; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; Female; Humans; Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins; Neoplasm Proteins