lignans and Esophageal-Neoplasms

Tripartite motif-containing 44 (TRIM44) is known to play an oncogenic role in multiple human cancers, including esophageal cancer. Sesamin possesses potent anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties for various cancers. This study is designed to unravel the biological functions of sesamin and TRIM44 in esophageal cancer. TRIM44 expression in esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) cell lines and tissues was determined by RT-qPCR assay and Western blot. The effects of sesamin and TRIM44 on ESCC cell growth in vivo and in vitro were assessed by the mouse model and CCK-8 assay, respectively. We found that TRIM44 was significantly upregulated in ESCC cell lines and tissues when compared to their counterparts. Sesamin treatment or depletion of TRIM44 markedly reduced ESCC cell proliferation. The nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling pathway may be involved in sesamin-mediated TRIM44 suppression. Finally, we showed that oral administration of sesamin dramatically inhibited tumor growth or ESCC in nude mice. Our results suggest that sesamin exerts anti-tumor activity in ESCC via inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathway, demonstrating its potential for the treatment of esophageal cancer.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Cell Survival; Dioxoles; Esophageal Neoplasms; Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Humans; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Lignans; Mice; Mice, Nude; NF-kappa B; Signal Transduction; Transplantation, Heterologous; Tripartite Motif Proteins

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Apiaceae; Apoptosis; Caspases; Cell Cycle Checkpoints; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Cell Survival; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; ErbB Receptors; Esophageal Neoplasms; Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; Humans; Lignans; MAP Kinase Signaling System; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; Mitochondria; Podophyllotoxin; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Reactive Oxygen Species

BACKGROUND Esophageal cancer causes considerable mortality and is ranked as the 6th most prevalent type of cancer across the world. At present, there is no effective esophageal cancer chemotherapy without adverse effects. Moreover, emergence of drug resistance among cancer is another obstacle in the treatment of esophageal cancer. Novel molecules of plant origin may prove beneficial in the development of chemotherapy for esophageal carcinoma. In this study we examined the anticancer effects of phillygenin against the vindesine-resistant esophageal cancer cell line SH-1-V1. MATERIAL AND METHODS The proliferation rate of SH-1-V1 cells was determined by WST-1 assay. Apoptosis was confirmed by propidium iodide (PI) staining. Cell cycle analysis, ROS, and MMP determination were performed by flow cytometery. Protein expression was assessed by Western blot analysis. RESULTS We found that phillygenin inhibited the growth of SH-1-V1 cells and exhibited an IC50 of 6 µM. Investigation of the underlying mechanism revealed that phillygenin triggered apoptotic cell death of the SH-1-V1 cells, which was also associated with enhancement of Bax expression and decreased expression of Bcl-2. Moreover, the expression of cleaved caspase 3 and 9 also increased upon phillygenin treatment. Phillygenin also caused a significant increase in ROS production, concomitant with decreased MMP levels. Phillygenin also caused arrest of cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. In vivo evaluation of phillygenin revealed that it can inhibit tumor weight and volume, suggesting the anticancer potential of phillygenin. CONCLUSIONS In brief, phillygenin inhibited in vitro and in vivo cancer cell growth in drug-resistant human esophageal cancer cells, and these effects were mediated via apoptosis, ROS generation, mitochondrial membrane potential loss, and activation of the NF-kB signalling pathway.

Topics: Apoptosis; Cell Cycle; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Cell Survival; Esophageal Neoplasms; Humans; Inhibitory Concentration 50; Lignans; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; Mitochondria; NF-kappa B; Reactive Oxygen Species; Signal Transduction

Diphyllin is a natural component of traditional Chinese medicine, which effectively inhibits V-ATPase activity and affects the progression of cancer. However, few studies have been conducted on esophageal cancer, and the mechanisms remain to be elucidated. The present study revealedthat diphyllin inhibited proliferation and induced S arrest in esophageal cancer cell lines TE-1 and ECA-109. Further experiments revealed that diphyllin inhibited V-ATPase activity and decreased the mRNA expression of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The present study also revealed that diphyllin inhibited proliferation and reduced the formation of new blood vessels. Diphyllin inhibited blood metastasis by regulating the mTORC1/HIF-1α-/VEGF pathway, therefore it could be considered as a new V-ATPase inhibitor to treat esophageal cancer.

Topics: Apoptosis; Benzodioxoles; Biomarkers, Tumor; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Cell Cycle; Cell Movement; Cell Proliferation; Cells, Cultured; Esophageal Neoplasms; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells; Humans; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; Lignans; Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1; Signal Transduction; Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Apoptosis; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Survival; Cyclooctanes; Docetaxel; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Combinations; Drug Compounding; Drug Resistance, Multiple; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; Emulsions; Esophageal Neoplasms; Humans; Inhibitory Concentration 50; Lignans; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Nude; Particle Size; Polycyclic Compounds; Solubility; Surface Properties; Taxoids; Tumor Burden; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Dietary lignans, quercetin and resveratrol have oestrogenic properties, and animal studies suggest that they synergistically decrease cancer risk. A protective effect of lignans on the development of oesophageal cancer in humans has recently been demonstrated, and the present study aimed to test whether these three phytochemicals synergistically decrease the risk of oesophageal cancer. Data from a Swedish nationwide population-based case-control study that recruited 181 cases of oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC), 158 cases of oesophageal squamous-cell carcinoma (OSCC), 255 cases of gastro-oesophageal junctional adenocarcinoma (JAC) and 806 controls were analysed. Exposure data were collected through face-to-face interviews and questionnaires. The intake of lignans, quercetin and resveratrol was assessed using a sixty-three-item FFQ. Reduced-rank regression was used to assess a dietary pattern, and a simplified dietary pattern score was categorised into quintiles on the basis of the distribution among the control subjects. Unconditional multivariable logistic regression provided OR with 95% CI, adjusted for all the potential risk factors. A dietary pattern rich in lignans, quercetin and resveratrol was mainly characterised by a high intake of tea, wine, lettuce, mixed vegetables, tomatoes, and whole-grain bread and a low intake of milk. There were dose-dependent associations between simplified dietary pattern scores and all types of oesophageal cancer (all P for trend < 0.05). On comparing the highest quintiles with the lowest, the adjusted OR were found to be 0.24 (95% CI 0.12, 0.49) for OAC, 0.31 (95% CI 0.15, 0.65) for OSCC, and 0.49 (95% CI 0.28, 0.84) for JAC. The results of the present study indicate that a dietary pattern characterised by the intake of lignans, quercetin and resveratrol may play a protective role in the development of oesophageal cancer in the Swedish population.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Aged; Anticarcinogenic Agents; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Case-Control Studies; Diet; Esophageal Neoplasms; Esophagus; Feeding Behavior; Female; Humans; Lignans; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Odds Ratio; Plant Extracts; Quercetin; Resveratrol; Stilbenes

High intake of phytoestrogen lignans has been found to be associated with decreased risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma in our previous population-based case-control study in Sweden. To further evaluate this possible association, we tested the hypothesis of an inverse association between dietary lignan intake and risk of esophageal and gastric adenocarcinoma using a prospective design. In a population-based cohort study in Sweden, 81,670 participants who were cancer-free at baseline were followed up during 1998 to 2009. All participants completed a 96-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), which was used to assess dietary exposure to lignans (secoisolariciresinol, matairesinol, lariciresinol, pinoresinol, medioresinol, and syringaresinol). All cases of esophageal, gastroesophageal junctional, and gastric adenocarcinoma were identified through linkage to the Swedish Cancer Register. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate HRs and 95% confidence intervals (CI), with adjustment for potential confounding factors. During an average follow-up of 9.9 years, a total of 211 cases were identified, including 83 cases of esophageal or junctional adenocarcinoma, and 128 cases of gastric adenocarcinoma. There was no statistically significant association between dietary intake of lignans and any of the studied adenocarcinomas. Compared with participants in the lowest quartile of lignan intake, the adjusted HR of the highest quartile was 0.96 (95% CI, 0.46-2.00; P(trend) = 0.70) for adenocarcinoma of the esophagus or gastroesophageal junction, and 0.89 (95% CI, 0.52-1.55: P(trend) = 0.78) for gastric adenocarcinoma. No clear support for a protective role of dietary intake of lignans in the development of esophageal or gastric adenocarcinoma was found.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Case-Control Studies; Diet; Esophageal Neoplasms; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Lignans; Male; Middle Aged; Prognosis; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Stomach Neoplasms; Sweden

The strong male predominance in esophageal and gastroesophageal junctional adenocarcinoma remains unexplained. Sex hormonal influence has been suggested, but not proven. A protective role of dietary phytoestrogen lignans was hypothesized.. A Swedish nationwide population-based case-control study was conducted in 1995-1997, including 181 cases of esophageal adenocarcinoma, 255 cases of gastroesophageal junctional adenocarcinoma, 158 cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and 806 control subjects. Data on various exposures, including dietary data, were collected through personal interviews and questionnaires. Dietary intake of lignans was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire and categorized into quartiles based on the consumption among the control participants. Unconditional logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs), including adjustment for all established risk factors.. Participants in the highest quartile of intake of lignans compared with the lowest quartile were at a decreased risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma (OR, 0.65; 95 % CI, 0.38-1.12; p for trend =0.03), gastroesophageal junctional adenocarcinoma (OR, 0.37; 95 % CI, 0.23-0.58; p for trend <0.0001), and these adenocarcinomas combined (OR, 0.45; 95 % CI, 0.31-0.67; p for trend <0.0001). No clear associations were found between lignan intake and risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.. This population-based study indicates that a high dietary intake of lignans decreases the risk of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Aged; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Case-Control Studies; Diet; Esophageal Neoplasms; Esophagogastric Junction; Female; Humans; Lignans; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Odds Ratio; Phytoestrogens; Risk Factors; Stomach Neoplasms; Sweden

One way to link chronic inflammation with cancer is through the intrinsic inflammatory pathway, in which genetic alterations that induce malignant transformation also produce a cancer-promoting, inflammatory microenvironment. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) contributes to the intrinsic inflammatory pathway in Barrett's esophagus. In human tumors, honokiol (a polyphenol in herbal teas) has growth-inhibitory and proapoptotic effects associated with suppressed activation of STAT3. We used human Barrett's epithelial and esophageal adenocarcinoma cell lines to determine effects of honokiol on cell number, necrosis, apoptosis, and anchorage-independent growth and to explore STAT3's role in those effects. We determined Ras activity and expression of phosphorylated ERK1/2, phosphorylated Akt, and phosphorylated STAT3 in the presence or absence of honokiol. Cells were infected with constitutively active Stat3-C to assess effects of honokiol-induced STAT3 inhibition on apoptosis. Honokiol decreased cell number and increased necrosis and apoptosis in transformed Barrett's cells, but not in nontransformed cells. In adenocarcinoma cells, honokiol also increased necrosis and apoptosis and decreased anchorage-independent growth. Within 30 min of honokiol treatment, transformed Barrett's cells decreased expression of phosphorylated STAT3; decreases in Ras activity and phosphorylated ERK1/2 expression were detected at 24 h. Infection with Stat3-C significantly reduced apoptosis after honokiol treatment. Honokiol causes necrosis and apoptosis in transformed Barrett's and esophageal adenocarcinoma cells, but not in nontransformed Barrett's cells, and the proapoptotic effects of honokiol are mediated by its inhibition of STAT3 signaling. These findings suggest a potential role for targeting the intrinsic inflammatory pathways as a therapeutic strategy to prevent Barrett's carcinogenesis.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Apoptosis; Barrett Esophagus; Biphenyl Compounds; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Esophageal Neoplasms; Humans; Lignans; Signal Transduction; STAT3 Transcription Factor

Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is a highly lethal cancer in western countries. EAC cells are believed to develop from esophageal epithelial cells through complex transformation processes involving inflammation and oxidative stress. The purpose of this study was to compare the redox status of malignant and nonmalignant esophageal epithelial cells and to test their responses to bile acid-induced oxidative stress and to treatment with honokiol (HNK), a natural product with anticancer activity. We demonstrated that esophageal adenocarcinoma cells express significantly higher levels of antioxidant molecules and were resistant to reactive oxygen species (ROS) stress induced by bile acid, but were sensitive to the cytotoxic action of HNK. Mechanistic study showed that HNK caused cancer cell death by disruption of mitochondrial transmembrane potential and was correlated with cyclophilin D (CypD) expression. Inhibition of CypD by cyclosporin A or abrogation of its expression by siRNA significantly suppressed the cytotoxicity of HNK, suggesting that CypD may be a key molecule that mediates the cytotoxicity. Our study suggests that the high antioxidant capacity in EAC cells confers on them the ability to survive the oxidative microenvironment in the reflux esophagus, and that HNK is a promising compound to kill the transformed cells preferentially.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Base Sequence; Bile Acids and Salts; Biphenyl Compounds; Cell Line, Transformed; Cyclophilins; Epithelial Cells; Esophageal Neoplasms; Esophagus; Humans; Lignans; Oxidation-Reduction; Peptidyl-Prolyl Isomerase F; RNA, Small Interfering