title: Eupalmerin acetate, a novel anticancer agent from Caribbean gorgonian octocorals, induces apoptosis in malignant glioma cells via the c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase pathway.
abstract: The marine ecosystem is a vast but largely untapped resource for potential naturally based medicines. We tested 15 compounds derived from organisms found in the Caribbean Sea (14 gorgonian octocoral-derived compounds and one sponge-derived compound) for their anticancer effects on human malignant glioma U87-MG and U373-MG cells. Eupalmerin acetate (EPA) was chosen as the lead compound based on its longer-term stability and greater cytotoxicity than those of the other compounds we tested in these cell types. EPA induced G(2)-M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway; it translocated Bax from the cytoplasm to the mitochondria and dissipated the mitochondrial transmembrane potential in both cell types. EPA was found to increase phosphorylated c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) by >50% in both U87-MG and U373-MG cells. A specific JNK inhibitor, SP600125, inhibited EPA-induced apoptosis, confirming the involvement of the JNK pathway in EPA-induced apoptotic cell death. Furthermore, 7 days of daily intratumoral injections of EPA significantly suppressed the growth of s.c. malignant glioma xenografts (P < 0.01, on day 19). These results indicate that EPA is therapeutically effective against malignant glioma cells in vitro and in vivo and that it, or a similar marine-based compound, may hold promise as a clinical anticancer agent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Unit BSRB1004, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Arifumi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iwamaru
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Iwado
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: Burnilda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vera
authors.forename: Abimael D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: Yasuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kondo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa / Q000737:chemistry*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D017691:Caribbean Region; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D016195:G2 Phase / Q000187:drug effects; D005910:Glioma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects; D008938:Mitosis / Q000187:drug effects; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004224:Diterpenes; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; C082581:eupalmerin acetate; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases