The potential roles of Cyrtopodion scabrum extract in cancer metastasis and cellular differentiation in colon cancer cells

Introduction: Metastasis is responsible for about ۹۰% of cancer-related deaths. Reversal of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) process could serve as an effective approach that potentially limits tumor progression. Despite great efforts to explore effective therapeutic agents, treatment of metastatic cancers has progressed minimally. According to our previous studies, the extract of a kind of lizard, named Cyrtopodion scabrum (CSE) selectively suppresses some gastrointestinal cancer cell lines and successfully treats the tumor-bearing mice, with no significant harmful effect on the normal cells. This study aimed to investigate the potential role of CSE in reversal of EMT process in colorectal cancer. Methods: In this study, we investigated the potential role of CSE on the proliferation, migration, invasion and differentiation of HCT۱۱۶ colorectal cancer cell line. We applied MTT, wound healing and colony formation assay as well as real-time PCR analysis for N-cadherin and Snail genes. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), a well-known differentiating agent, was used as positive control. Results: Our MTT results showed that CSE as well as ATRA decreased tumor cell viability in a dose dependant manner. Wound healing and colony formation results showed that the migration and invasion abilities of HCT۱۱۶ cells were significantly inhibited by CSE. Moreover, CSE treatment decreased the expression of mesenchymal markers, N-cadherin and Snail. Conclusion: The observed anti-tumor effect of CSE may occur through reversal of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process. Thus, CSE could be used as an alternative/complementary natural therapeutic anticancer agent, supporting its traditional medicinal uses.

کلیدواژه ها:

Natural Anticancer product ، Cyrtopodion scabrum extract ، differentiation ، metastasis ، epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT)