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Alternol inhibits migration and invasion of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells by targeting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition

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Tumor Biology

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Such deaths are due, in large part, to its propensity to metastasize. We have examined the effect of alternol on human HCC cells and the underlying molecular mechanism. Therapeutic effects of alternol on cancer cell migration and invasion were analyzed with Boyden chamber and wound healing assays. Effects of alternol on the levels of various proteins involved in cancer cell migration and invasion were determined with gelatin zymography, immunofluorescence, and Western blotting. As shown, treatment with alternol has resulted in a concentration-dependent inhibition of cell migration and invasion of HepG2 cells. The inhibition of HCC invasion by alternol was associated with the suppression of MMP-9 expression and reversal of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The above results indicated that alternol has the ability to inhibit the migration and invasion of human HCC cells by reversing the process of EMT, suggesting that alternol may be developed as an alternative drug for the treatment of HCC.

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Acknowledgment

This work has been jointly sponsored by a grant from the Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 81072899), the Natural Science Foundation of Liaoning Province, China (2013021081), and the Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing, China (cstc2013jcyjA1587).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Pharmacology, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China

    Xiao-lin Zhu, Yan-li Wang, Pei-fang Cong, Ying-chun Qu & Mei-xia Zhang

  2. Strand Biotechnology Institute of Research, Shantou, 515041, China

    Jie-peng Chen & Li-li Duan

  3. Joint Key Laboratory for Bio-resource Research and Utilization of Sichuan and Chongqing, Institute of Medical Genetics, School of Life Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

    Jesse Li-Ling

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  1. Xiao-lin Zhu
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  2. Yan-li Wang
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  5. Pei-fang Cong
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Correspondence to Mei-xia Zhang.

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Xiao-lin Zhu, Yan-li Wang, and Jie-peng Chen contributed equally to this work.

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Zhu, Xl., Wang, Yl., Chen, Jp. et al. Alternol inhibits migration and invasion of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells by targeting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Tumor Biol. 35, 1627–1635 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13277-013-1224-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13277-013-1224-y

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