title: Mastic oil inhibits the metastatic phenotype of mouse lung adenocarcinoma cells.
abstract: Mastic oil from Pistacia lentiscus variation chia, a natural combination of bioactive terpenes, has been shown to exert anti-tumor growth effects against a broad spectrum of cancers including mouse Lewis lung adenocarcinomas (LLC). However, no studies have addressed its anti-metastatic actions. In this study, we showed that treatment of LLC cells with mastic oil within a range of non-toxic concentrations (0.01-0.04% v/v): (a) abrogated their Matrigel invasion and migration capabilities in transwell assays; (b) reduced the levels of secreted MMP-2; (c) restricted phorbol ester-induced actin remodeling and (d) limited the length of neo-vessel networks in tumor microenvironment in the model of chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane. Moreover, exposure of LLC and endothelial cells to mastic oil impaired their adhesive interactions in a co-culture assay and reduced the expression of key adhesion molecules by endothelial cells upon their stimulation with tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Overall, this study provides novel evidence supporting a multipotent role for mastic oil in prevention of crucial processes related to cancer metastasis.
authors.affiliation: "G.P. Livanos and M. Simou Laboratories", Evangelismos Hospital, Department of Critical Care and Pulmonary Services, School of Medicine, University of Athens, 3 Ploutarchou Street, 10675 Athens, Greece. elloutrar@med.uoa.gr.
authors.forename: Heleni
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Loutrari
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Magkouta
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papapetropoulos
authors.forename: Charis
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roussos