Abstract 5668: Nexrutine, a phellodendron amurense extract protects against breast cancer

• Published in: Cancer research (Chicago, Ill.) Vol. 70; no. 8_Supplement; p. 5668
• Main Authors: Lanza-Jacoby, Susan, Yan, Guang, Wang, Chenguang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 15.04.2010
• ISSN: 0008-5472; 1538-7445
• DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.AM10-5668

Abstract Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women with over 40,000 deaths per year in the United States. Prognosis is poor for a subset of women with estrogen receptor (ER) negative or ErB2 overexpressing ER negative tumors because their cancers are aggressive and do not respond to conventional treatment. This emphasizes the importance of developing new agents and protocols for preventing breast cancer. Numerous epidemiological studies suggest that plant-based diets are protective against many types of cancer. Nexrutine, an herbal extract from the Chinese plant Phellodendron amurense, has been used for centuries in Chinese medicine to treat inflammation, gastroenteritis, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. The anti-inflammatory properity of Nexrutine is of particular relevance considering the relationship of inflammation to cancer. Many tumors including those of the breast have high levels of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2., which result in increased levels of the proinflammatory mediator prostaglandin (PG) E2. In this study we investigated the anti-cancer effects of Nexrutine on several breast cancer cell lines. Nexrutine decreased activities of COX-2 and peroxisome proliferators activated receptor gamma (PPAR)γ; two potential biomarkers of breast cancer. Nexrutine reduced the production of PGE2, which was associated with decreased protein expression of microsomal PGE2 synthase (mPGES) and increased PG 15-dehydrogenase (15-PGDH). The Nexrutine decreased cell survival, which was accompanied by a G1 cell cycle arrest, increased autophagy, and cell death in SkBr3 and MDA-MB 231 cells. Analysis of the cell cycle regulators indicated a decrease in Cyclin D1, cdk 2, Cyclin E, and decreased phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein and increase in p21 and p27. Based upon these findings, we propose that the use of Nexrutine could provide a novel approach for protection against breast cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5668.