Sulforaphane enhances caspase-dependent apoptosis through inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 expression in human oral squamous carcinoma cells and nude mouse xenograft model.
In this study, we found that oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) in Korean patients have a high level of COX-2 expression when compared with normal mucosa. Sulforaphane (SFN), rich in cruciferous vegetables, has been reported to display anti-cancer activity against many cancers. However, the effect and molecular mechanism of SFN in the proliferation of OSCC still remains unclear. To elucidate this mechanism, we investigated the anti-proliferative effect of SFN on KB and YD-10B cells and demonstrated that SFN significantly induced caspase-dependent apoptosis. Also, we observed that SFN inhibited COX-2 but not COX-1. In addition, bcl-2 protein, one of downstream targets of COX-2, was down-regulated by SFN. Furthermore, SFN also inhibited tumor growth in KB cell xenografts. These results show that SFN can act as a potent anti-oral cancer compound by inhibiting COX-2 activity.
Cho
Nam-Pyo
NP
Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry and Institute of Oral Bioscience, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea.
Han
Hye-Suk
HS
Leem
Dae-Ho
DH
Choi
In-Sun
IS
Jung
Ji-Youn
JY
Kim
Hyeong-Jin
HJ
Moon
Kyung-Suk
KS
Choi
Kyeong-Hee
KH
Soh
Yunjo
Y
Kong
Gu
G
Cho
Sung-Dae
SD
Choi
Seoung Hwan
SH
D000818:Animals; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D020169:Caspases / Q000502:physiology; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D017879:Isothiocyanates; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D056910:Republic of Korea; D013454:Sulfoxides; D013861:Thiocyanates / Q000494:pharmacology*
D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D017879:Isothiocyanates; D013454:Sulfoxides; D013861:Thiocyanates; D020169:Caspases; C016766:sulforaphane