Plant Volatile, Phenylacetaldehyde Targets Breast Cancer Stem Cell by Induction of ROS and Regulation of Stat3 Signal

Dong-Sun Lee,Ji-Hyang Kim,Yu-Chan Ko,Su-Lim Kim,Hack Sun Choi

doi:10.3390/antiox9111119

Abstract

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are undifferentiated cells that give rise to tumor and resistance to chemotherapy. This study reports that phenylacetaldehyde (PAA), a flower flavor, inhibits formation on breast CSCs. PAA showed anti-proliferation and increased apoptosis of breast cancer. PAA also reduced tumor growth in an in vivo mice model. PAA reduced the CD44+/CD24− and ALDH1-expressing cells, mammosphere formation, and CSC marker genes. PAA preferentially induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and combined treatment with PAA and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) decreased inhibition of mammosphere formation. PAA reduced phosphorylation of nuclear Stat3. PAA inhibited Stat3 signaling through de-phosphorylation of Stat3 and reduced secretory IL-6. Our results suggest that the PAA-induced ROS deregulated Stat3/IL-6 pathway and PAA may be a potential agent targeting breast cancer and CSCs.

Highlights

Breast cancer refers to all malignant tumors that occur in the breast tissue and is frequently diagnosed as solid cancer in female
The aim at this study is to isolate volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from plants for killing cancer stem cells derived from breast cancer
We identified a VOC inhibitor that showed a more than 50% inhibition of mammosphere formation efficiency (MEF) (Table 2)

Summary

Introduction

Breast cancer refers to all malignant tumors that occur in the breast tissue and is frequently diagnosed as solid cancer in female. Breast tumor can occur in both men and women, but it is far more common in women, covering 23% of cancer cases and 14% of cancer deaths [1]. Mammography and chemotherapy on breast cancer has decreased the rate of death for breast cancer [2,3], this disease is still a serious disease owing to recurrence. CSCs, cancer initiating cells, comprise a small population in tumors and play an important role in cancer relapse, metastasis, and chemoresistance. The existence of CSCs was found in myeloid leukemia [4] and later identified in different tumors [5]. The properties of CSCs include interactions with tumor microenvironments. CSCs have a role in translational applications of cancer treatment [6]

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Discussion

Conclusion