PHII-7, a derivative of
indirubin, showed significant anti-
cancer activities in vivo and in vitro. We asked whether treating human metastatic
cancers and multidrug resistant
cancer with PHII-7 would inhibit their invasion and migration. Cell growth was tested by MTT assay and colony formation assay. Apoptosis was examined by flow cytometry. Transwell-based assay and wound healing assay were used to examine cell invasion and migration. Real-time PCR assay and western blot assay were performed to test gene expression on
mRNA and
protein level, respectively. Firstly, we confirmed that MCF-7/ADR cells showed more invasive and migratory properties compared with MCF-7 cells which were associated with several EMT markers, such as
E-cadherin, Slug and
vimentin. Secondly, we found that slightly toxic doses of PHII-7 decreased the number of cells that invaded a model epithelial basement membrane and that migrated by switching the molecular signature of the cells from mesenchymal to epithelial. And PHII-7 significantly regulated expression of several epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related genes, including
E-cadherin, Slug, β-
catenin and
vimentin. Thirdly, compared with control, PHII-7 inhibited cell proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Higher doses of PHII-7 also induced apoptosis through activating PARP,
caspase-9 and
caspase-3. PHII-7 significantly inhibited invasion and migration in both metastatic
cancers and multidrug resistant
cancer. Our results may provide several data for future application of PHII-7 on
drug design and patients treatment.
KEYWORDS: PHII-7, invasion, migration, multidrug resistance, epithelial-mesenchymal transition.