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Cucurbitacin B inhibits the migration and invasion of breast cancer cells by altering the biomechanical properties of cells
Author(s) -
Liang Jing,
Zhang XiaoLan,
Yuan JinWei,
Zhang HaoRan,
Liu Dan,
Hao Jian,
Ji Wei,
Wu XiongZhi,
Chen Dan
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
phytotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.019
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1573
pISSN - 0951-418X
DOI - 10.1002/ptr.6250
Subject(s) - rhoa , rac1 , cdc42 , cell migration , vinculin , cancer cell , microbiology and biotechnology , focal adhesion , cytoskeleton , vimentin , actin cytoskeleton , cell adhesion , chemistry , integrin , cancer research , biology , cell , actin , cancer , signal transduction , immunology , biochemistry , genetics , immunohistochemistry
Changes in cellular biomechanical properties affect cell migration and invasion. The natural compound Cucurbitacin B (CuB) has potent anticancer activity; however, the mechanism underlying its inhibitory effect on breast cancer metastasis needs further study. Here, we showed that low‐dose CuB inhibited adhesion and altered the viscoelasticity of breast cancer cells, thereby, reducing cell deformability. In vitro and in vivo experiments proved that CuB effectively inhibited the migration and invasion of breast cancer cells. Further studies have found that CuB downregulated the expression of F‐actin/vimentin/FAK/vinculin in breast cancer cells, altering the distribution and reorganization of cytoskeletal proteins in the cells. CuB inhibited signaling by the Rho family GTPases RAC1/CDC42/RhoA downstream of integrin. These findings indicate that CuB has been proven to mediate the reorganization and distribution of cytoskeletal proteins of breast cancer cells through RAC1/CDC42/RhoA signaling, which improves the mechanical properties of cell adhesion and deformation and consequently inhibits cell migration and invasion.