Phenethyl isothiocyanate reduces breast cancer stem cell-like properties by epigenetic reactivation of CDH1.

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy and leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. Tumor recurrence, or metastasis, is caused by cancer stem cells and has a dismal prognosis for breast cancer patients. Thus, targeting breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) for eradication is a potential method to improve clinical outcomes. Phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) is a novel epigenetic regulator derived from cruciferous vegetables that has marked antitumor effects. However, the exact mechanism of these antitumor effects by PEITC is unknown. As breast cancer progresses, a tumor suppressor in the breast, cadherin 1 (CDH1), is silenced by hypermethylation of the promoter region, further promoting the stem cell-like properties of cancer. Herein, the ability of PEITC to reduce BCSC-like properties by epigenetic reactivation of CDH1 was investigated by multiple analyses such as MTT, colony formation and sphere formation assays, methylation-specific PCR, western blot analysis, Co-IP and qPCR. It was revealed that PEITC inhibited colony and mammosphere formation and decreased the expression of protein markers associated with BCSC-like properties via epigenetic reactivation of CDH1. Further exploration of this mechanism revealed inhibitory effects of PEITC on DNMTs and HDACs, which play a pivotal role in demethylating the hypermethylated CDH1 promoter region. Reactivated CDH1 suppressed the Wnt/β-catenin pathway which confers BCSC-properties in breast cancer cells. These findings suggest a novel method to eradicate BCSCs from breast cancer patients.

• Authors: Taolan Zhang, Weijuan Zhang, Meng Hao
• Journal: Oncology reports (Oncol Rep) Vol. 45 Issue 1 Pg. 337-348 (01 2021) ISSN: 1791-2431 [Electronic] Greece
• PMID: 33416137 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anticarcinogenic Agents
• Antigens, CD
• CDH1 protein, human
• Cadherins
• Isothiocyanates
• phenethyl isothiocyanate

Topics

• Anticarcinogenic Agents (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Antigens, CD (genetics)
• Breast Neoplasms (drug therapy, genetics, pathology)
• Cadherins (genetics)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• DNA Methylation (drug effects)
• Epigenesis, Genetic (drug effects)
• Female
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic (drug effects)
• Humans
• Isothiocyanates (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Neoplastic Stem Cells (drug effects, pathology)
• Tumor Stem Cell Assay
• Wnt Signaling Pathway (drug effects)
• Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays