title: Novel anti-angiogenic effects of formononetin in human colon cancer             cells and tumor xenograft.
abstract: Formononetin is a novel herbal isoflavonoid isolated from Astragalus membranaceus,             a medicinal plant that possesses antitumorigenic properties. Our previous findings             demonstrated that formononetin initiates growth-inhibitory and pro-apoptotic activities             in human colon cancer cells. In the present study, we aimed to further examine             the potential of formononetin in controlling angiogenesis and tumor cell invasiveness             in human colon cancer cells and tumor xenografts. The results showed that formononetin             downregulated the expression of the key pro-angiogenic factors, including vascular             endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinases. We also discovered             that the invasiveness of metastatic colon cancer cells was alleviated following             drug treatment. The potential anti-angiogenic effect of formononetin was examined             in nude mouse xenografts. The tumor size and the number of proliferating cells             were reduced in the tumor tissues obtained from the formononetin-treated group.             The serum VEGF level was also reduced in the drug-treated animals when compared             to the controls. These findings suggest that formononetin inhibits angiogenesis             and tumor cell invasion, and thus support its use in the treatment of advanced             and metastatic colon cancers.
authors.affiliation: Center for Cancer and Inflammation Research, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, PR China.
authors.forename: Kathy Ka-Wai
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Auyeung
authors.forename: Pui-Ching
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Law
authors.forename: Joshua Ka-Shun
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Ko
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D027885:Astragalus propinquus / Q000737:chemistry; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D007529:Isoflavones; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D010936:Plant Extracts; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C007768:formononetin