RN1, a novel galectin-3 inhibitor, inhibits pancreatic cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo via blocking galectin-3 associated signaling pathways

Oncogene. 2017 Mar 2;36(9):1297-1308. doi: 10.1038/onc.2016.306. Epub 2016 Sep 12.

Abstract

Galectin-3 (Gal-3) has been implicated in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), and its candidacy as a therapeutic target has been evaluated. Gal-3 is widely upregulated in tumors, and its expression is associated with the development and malignancy of PDAC. In the present study, we demonstrate that a polysaccharide, RN1, purified from the flower of Panax notoginseng binds to Gal-3 and suppresses its expression. In addition, RN1 markedly inhibits PDAC cells growth in vitro, in vivo and in patient-derived xenografts. Mechanistically, RN1 binds to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and Gal-3, thereby disrupting the interaction between Gal-3 and EGFR and downregulating extracellular-related kinase (ERK) phosphorylation and the transcription factor of Gal-3, Runx1 expression. Inhibiting the expression of Runx1 by RN1, suppresses Gal-3 expression and inactivates Gal-3-associated signaling pathways, including the EGFR/ERK/Runx1, BMP/smad/Id-3 and integrin/FAK/JNK signaling pathways. In addition, RN1 can also bind to bone morphogenetic protein receptors (BMPR1A and BMPR2) and block the interaction between Gal-3 and the BMPRs. Thus, our results suggest that a novel Gal-3 inhibitor RN1 may be a potential candidate for human PDAC treatment via multiple targets and multiple signaling pathways.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type I / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / prevention & control*
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / pharmacology*
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism
  • Female
  • Galectin 3 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Rhodamines / pharmacology*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • Spiro Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Thiophenes / pharmacology*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal
  • Galectin 3
  • Panax notoginseng extract
  • RN1 compound
  • Rhodamines
  • Spiro Compounds
  • Thiophenes
  • ErbB Receptors
  • BMPR1A protein, human
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type I