Vinpocetine inhibits breast cancer cells growth in vitro and in vivo.
Vinpocetine is a clinically used drug for cerebrovascular disorders as well as age-related memory impairment. Of note, vinpocetine has been recently identified as a novel anti-inflammatory agent; however, its effects on cancer cells remain to be investigated. In the present study, we found that vinpocetine potently inhibited proliferation of multiple types of human breast cancer cells by arresting cell cycle at G(0)/G(1) phase. It was also revealed that vinpocetine induced cell apoptosis via mitochondria-dependent pathway. Moreover, vinpocetine impaired the migration of the strongly metastatic cell MDA-MB-231. In xenograft model of human breast cancer in nude mice, both systemic and local administration of vinpocetine significantly suppressed the tumor growth without observed toxicity. Interestingly, vinpocetine markedly attenuated the activation of Akt and signal transducer and activator of transcription factor 3 (STAT3), but had no effects on MAP kinases pathways. Collectively, the data suggest that vinpocetine possesses significant yet previously unknown antitumor properties that may be utilized for the treatment of breast cancer.
Department of Pharmacology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, 74 Zhongshan 2 Road, Guangzhou 510080, People's Republic of China.
Er-Wen
EW
Huang
Sheng-Jiang
SJ
Xue
Zheng
Z
Zhang
Jia-Guo
JG
Zhou
Yong-Yuan
YY
Guan
Yong-Bo
YB
Tang
D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D014748:Vinca Alkaloids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; D014748:Vinca Alkaloids; C013983:vinpocetine; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt