Inhibition of angiogenesis and metastasis of uveal melanoma cells by astragaloside IV

Abstract

Astragaloside IV (AS) has been recently shown to possess pharmacologic activities against cancer. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a prominent role in the induction of physiological or pathophysiological processes of tumor angiogenesis. The present study focuses on the anti-angiogenesis effects of AS in uveal melanoma cells. In this study, AS was demonstrated to exhibit higher anti-proliferation activity against cultured uveal melanoma cells compared with control. AS was also found to inhibit VEGF-a expression and secretion in human cells; functional assays also indicated inhibition of invasion and migration of the cells. This provides new information on a significant anti-tumor effect of AS. This saponin may be used as a novel therapeutic drug for the inhibition of tumor angiogenesis and metastasis. Key words: Astragaloside IV, anti-cancer, vascular endothelial growth factor, uveal melanoma.