Open AccessPhloroglucinol suppresses metastatic ability of breast cancer cells by inhibition of epithelial‐mesenchymal cell transition
Author(s) -
Kim RaeKwon,
Suh Yongjoon,
Yoo KiChun,
Cui YanHong,
Hwang Eunji,
Kim HyunJin,
Kang JuSeop,
Kim MinJung,
Lee Young Yiul,
Lee SuJae
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
cancer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.035
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1349-7006
pISSN - 1347-9032
DOI - 10.1111/cas.12562
Subject(s) - phloroglucinol , breast cancer , cancer research , epithelial–mesenchymal transition , metastasis , cancer , cancer cell , metastatic breast cancer , slug , medicine , biology , botany
Metastasis is a challenging clinical problem and the primary cause of death in breast cancer patients. However, there is no therapeutic agent against metastasis of breast cancer cells. Here we report that phloroglucinol, a natural phlorotannin component of brown algae suppresses metastatic ability of breast cancer cells. Treatment with phloroglucinol effectively inhibited mesenchymal phenotypes of basal type breast cancer cells through downregulation of SLUG without causing a cytotoxic effect. Importantly, phloroglucinol decreased SLUG through inhibition of PI3K/AKT and RAS/RAF‐1/ERK signaling. In agreement with in vitro data, phloroglucinol was also effective against in vivo metastasis of breast cancer cells, drastically suppressing their metastatic ability to lungs, and extending the survival time of mice. Collectively, our findings demonstrate a novel anticancer activity of phloroglucinol against metastasis of breast cancer cells, implicating its clinical relevance.