1,4-Naphthoquinone is a potent inhibitor of human cancer cell growth and angiogenesis

• Published in: Cancer letters Vol. 278; no. 1; pp. 34 - 40
• Main Authors: Kayashima, Tomoko, Mori, Masaharu, Yoshida, Hiromi, Mizushina, Yoshiyuki, Matsubara, Kiminori
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier Ireland Ltd 08.06.2009; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: 1,4-Naphthoquinone; Angiogenesis; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Aortic ring; Cell Division - drug effects; Cell growth; Cell Line, Tumor - drug effects; Chemotaxis - drug effects; Collagen; Colonic Neoplasms - drug therapy; Colonic Neoplasms - pathology; Coronary vessels; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Derivatives; DNA; Endothelial cell; Endothelium, Vascular - cytology; Endothelium, Vascular - drug effects; Endothelium, Vascular - physiology; Enzymes; Femoral Artery; HeLa Cells - drug effects; Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine; Human cancer cell; Humans; Laboratory animals; Leukemia; Male; Naphthoquinones - pharmacology; Naphthoquinones - therapeutic use; Neovascularization, Pathologic - prevention & control; Polyphenols; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Rodents; Studies; Umbilical Veins - cytology; Umbilical Veins - drug effects; Angiogenesis; Endothelial cell; 1,4-Naphthoquinone; Human cancer cell; Aortic ring
• ISSN: 0304-3835; 1872-7980; 1872-7980
• DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2008.12.020

Angiogenesis inhibitors are beneficial for the prevention and treatment of angiogenesis-dependent diseases including cancer. Vitamin K2 and K3, which are naphthoquinone derivatives, inhibit angiogenesis. We examined the anti-cancer and anti-angiogenic effects of naphthoquinones and its structurally related compounds. Among these 13 compounds, 1,4-naphthoquinone strongly inhibited both human colon cancer cell (HCT116) growth and angiogenesis. To clarify the anti-angiogenic mechanism, the effects of 1,4-naphthoquinone on human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) tube formation, proliferation and chemotaxis were examined. Consequently, 1,4-naphthoquinone inhibited HUVEC functions. These results suggest that 1,4-naphthoquinone may be useful to cancer therapy.