Cardamonin suppresses the proliferation of colon cancer cells by promoting β-catenin degradation

Biol Pharm Bull. 2013;36(6):1040-4. doi: 10.1248/bpb.b13-00158. Epub 2013 Mar 29.

Abstract

Aberrant accumulation of intracellular β-catenin and subsequent activation of β-catenin response transcription (CRT) in intestinal epithelial cells is a frequent early event during the development of colon cancer. Here we show that cardamonin, a chalcone isolated from Aplinia katsumadai Hayata, inhibited CRT in SW480 colon cancer cells that carry inactivating mutation in the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene. Cardamonin also down-regulated intracellular β-catenin levels in SW480 cells without affecting its mRNA levels. Interestingly, pharmacological inhibition of the proteasome prevented the cardamonin-induced down-regulation of β-catenin. In addition, cardamonin suppressed the expression of cyclin D1 and c-myc, which are known β-catenin/T cell factor (TCF)-dependent genes. Moreover, cardamonin inhibited the growth of various colon cancer cells and induced G2/M cell cycle arrest in SW480 colon cancer cells. These findings indicate that cardamonin is a potential chemotherapeutic agent against colon cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Cycle Checkpoints / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Chalcones / pharmacology*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Colonic Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Down-Regulation
  • Humans
  • beta Catenin / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Chalcones
  • beta Catenin
  • cardamonin