Tumor microenvironment is known to alter the anticancer
drug efficiency. One of the factors that get altered in cancer microenvironment is
glucose concentration.
Butein, an active principle from plant, known to have anticancer effect against different types of
tumor. The objective of the study is to determine the effect of
butein on
glucose exposed
non-small cell lung cancer cells (NSCLCCs).
METHODS:
Glucose concentration, 0 mM and 40 mM, was found to be lethal at 72 h. Viable cell numbers were statistically increased in 5-mM, 10-mM, and 20-mM
glucose-treated cells.
Butein at 12.5 µM inhibits (p < 0.05)
glucose-induced cell proliferation.
Butein inhibits
glucose-induced proliferation through DNA damage and oxidative stress. Mitochondrial
reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was elevated in 20-mM
glucose-treated cells when compared to 5-mM
glucose-treated cells, whereas
butein treatment further increases
glucose-induced mitochondrial ROS. Pharmacological inhibitor of glycolysis, such as 2-deoxy
glucose (2-DG), was found to inhibit (p < 0.05)
glucose-induced cells proliferation. Furthermore, 2-DG and
butein showed synergistic anticancer effect.
Butein treatment increases p38 phosphorylation. Inhibition of p38 phosphorylation and
antioxidant pretreatment partially revert the
glucose-induced cell proliferation. However, inhibition of p38 phosphorylation combined with
antioxidant pretreatment completely reverts the anticancer effect of
butein. The present study concludes through the evidence that
butein could serve as a potential anticancer compound in tumor microenvironment.