Abstract 949: Novel stilbene compounds inhibit triple-negative breast cancer invasive potential

Abstract

Abstract Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly aggressive breast subtype of breast cancer that lacks targeted therapies. We have previously identified several novel stilbene compounds that effectively decreased viability of TNBC. Stilbenes are natural defense compounds produced by plants and have been popularized in recent years due to general observed health benefits. Resveratrol, the most widely studied stilbene, has been revealed to possess significant antioxidant and anti-cancer effects. Many stilbenes are classified as phytoestrogens, but unlike estrogens, stilbenes do not appear to negatively impact normal breast tissue or reproductive organ health. Thus, these compounds represent new alternatives for cancer therapeutic development. The focus of this research was to identify stilbene compounds with anti-migration and/or anti-invasive properties in TNBC cells and to determine the mechanism of these inhibitory effects. Two TNBC cell lines, MDA-MB-157 and BT-549, were treated with stilbene compounds at sub-lethal doses and assessed for effects on migration and invasion using transwell assays. Cell morphology changes were evaluated with results suggestive of reversal of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a key contributor in the metastatic process and a common characteristic of many TNBC cells. Gene expression analysis confirmed stilbene-induced changes of EMT-related genes. These data indicate that stilbenes, like resveratrol and related analogues, reduce cell motility and invasion through regulation of EMT gene expression in TNBC cells. Development of synthetic analogs of natural compounds remains a viable drug development opportunity for new therapeutics. Citation Format: Lyndsay V. Rhodes, Kaelyn Julmeus. Novel stilbene compounds inhibit triple-negative breast cancer invasive potential [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 949.