title: Triptolide Inhibits Lung Cancer Cell Migration, Invasion, and Metastasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Triptolide is an extract from Tripterygium wilfordii used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat autoimmune disorders. Triptolide has anticancer effects in vitro and is reported to impair cancer cell migration. We studied whether triptolide inhibits lung cancer cell migration and metastasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We determined the microRNA expression profile of triptolide-treated cells. We tested the effects of triptolide treatment on migration and invasion of lung cancer cells by using Transwell filters coated with fibronectin and Matrigel, respectively. Western blot analyses were used to compare expression of proteins involved in cell migration before and after 10 nmol/L triptolide treatment. Tail vein injections with H358 cells were performed. The mice were treated with 1 mg/kg triptolide or vehicle by intraperitoneal injection three times per week. Lung and liver metastases were compared at 9 weeks. Means of groups were compared by using a t test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Triptolide altered the expression of microRNAs involved in cellular movement and significantly decreased migration and invasion of lung cancer cells from approximately 18 to 3 cells per field (p < 0.001). Triptolide decreases focal adhesion kinase expression, which leads to impairment of downstream signaling. Finally, triptolide-treated mice injected with lung cancer cells significantly decreased metastatic colony formation in the lungs (p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Triptolide decreases lung cancer cell migration and invasion in vitro and inhibits metastatic tumor formation in mice. Triptolide suppresses focal adhesion kinase, which causes deregulation of the migration machinery. These results suggest that triptolide inhibits lung cancer metastasis and should be investigated as a new lung cancer therapy.
authors: Division of Thoracic Surgery, City of Hope Medical Center, Duarte, California.
authors: Theresa A
authors: TA
authors: Reno
authors: Division of Thoracic Surgery, City of Hope Medical Center, Duarte, California.
authors: Jae Y
authors: JY
authors: Kim
authors: Division of Thoracic Surgery, City of Hope Medical Center, Duarte, California. Electronic address: draz@coh.org.
authors: Dan J
authors: DJ
authors: Raz
mesh_terms: D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004852:Epoxy Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000188:drug therapy; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D004224:Diterpenes; D004852:Epoxy Compounds; D010616:Phenanthrenes; C001899:triptolide