Jin-hee Park

Methylsulfonylmethane Suppresses Breast Cancer Growth by Down-Regulating STAT3 and STAT5b Pathways

Breast cancer is the most aggressive form of all cancers, with high incidence and mortality rates. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the molecular mechanism by which methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) inhibits breast cancer growth in mice xenografts. MSM is an organic sulfur-containing natural compound without any toxicity. In this study, we demonstrated that MSM substantially decreased the viability of human breast cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. MSM also suppressed the phosphorylation of STAT3, STAT5b, expression of IGF-1R, HIF-1α, VEGF, BrK, and p-IGF-1R and inhibited triple-negative receptor expression in receptor-positive cell lines. Moreover, MSM decreased the DNA-binding activities of STAT5b and STAT3, to the target gene promoters in MDA-MB 231 or co-transfected COS-7 cells. We confirmed that MSM significantly decreased the relative luciferase activities indicating crosstalk between STAT5b/IGF-1R, STAT5b/HSP90α, and STAT3/VEGF. To confirm these findings in vivo, xenografts were established in Balb/c athymic nude mice with MDA-MB 231 cells and MSM was administered for 30 days. Concurring to our in vitro analysis, these xenografts showed decreased expression of STAT3, STAT5b, IGF-1R and VEGF. Through in vitro and in vivo analysis, we confirmed that MSM can effectively regulate multiple targets including STAT3/VEGF and STAT5b/IGF-1R. These are the major molecules involved in tumor development, progression, and metastasis. Thus, we strongly recommend the use of MSM as a trial drug for treating all types of breast cancers including triple-negative cancers.

Hwanggeumchal sorghum Induces Cell Cycle Arrest, and Suppresses Tumor Growth and Metastasis through Jak2/STAT Pathways in Breast Cancer Xenografts

Background Cancer is one of the highly virulent diseases known to humankind with a high mortality rate. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. Sorghum is a principal cereal food in many parts of the world, and is critical in folk medicine of Asia and Africa. In the present study, we analyzed the effects of HSE in metastatic breast cancer. Methodology/Principal Findings Preliminary studies conducted on MDA-MB 231 and MCF-7 xenograft models showed tumor growth suppression by HSE. Western blotting studies conducted both in vivo and in vitro to check the effect of HSE in Jak/STAT pathways. Anti-metastatic effects of HSE were confirmed using both MDA-MB 231 and MCF-7 metastatic animal models. These studies showed that HSE can modulate Jak/STAT pathways, and it hindered the STAT5b/IGF-1R and STAT3/VEGF pathways not only by down-regulating the expression of these signal molecules and but also by preventing their phosphorylation. The expression of angiogenic factors like VEGF, VEGF-R2 and cell cycle regulators like cyclin D, cyclin E, and pRb were found down-regulated by HSE. In addition, it also targets Brk, p53, and HIF-1α for anti-cancer effects. HSE induced G1 phase arrest and migration inhibition in MDA-MB 231 cells. The metastasis of breast cancer to the lungs also found blocked by HSE in the metastatic animal model. Conclusions/Significance Usage of HS as a dietary supplement is an inexpensive natural cancer therapy, without any side effects. We strongly recommend the use of HS as an edible therapeutic agent as it possesses tumor suppression, migration inhibition, and anti-metastatic effects on breast cancer.

Hypoxia upregulates Hsp90α expression via STAT5b in cancer cells.

Hsp90α is a molecular chaperone protein involved in the structural maturation of oncogenic signaling proteins. Hsp90 was recently identified as an anticancer target; various studies are ongoing to find ways for managing cancer through Hsp90α. However, this approach is limited by reported side-effects. Hypoxia is a hallmark of solid tumors, including those of breast cancer and the extent of tumor hypoxia is associated with resistance to treatment and poor prognosis. One of the major signaling pathways in cancer cells, the Jak2/STAT5b pathway, has been found to be closely correlated with hypoxia. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of Jak2/STAT5b in the regulation of Hsp90α expression so that Hsp90α targeting can be achieved indirectly by modulating the Jak2/STAT5b pathway. We examined the role of the Jak2/STAT5b pathway in the expression of Hsp90α under hypoxic conditions by immunoblotting, reporter gene assays, EMSA and RNA interference analysis. With the help of in vivo models, we also analyzed the expression of Hsp90α in different parts of solid tumor tissues. We found a close association between hypoxic stress and Hsp90α expression. We also determined that STAT5b regulates the expression of Hsp90α during hypoxic stimulation. Under hypoxic conditions the expression of Hsp90α and STAT5b were proportional. siRNA analysis and nucleotide analysis showed that the promoter of Hsp90α has a STAT5b binding domain. Our work confirmed that STAT5b is one of the transcription factors that regulate Hsp90α. We, therefore, concluded that under hypoxic conditions, the Jak2/STAT5b pathway regulates Hsp90α expression and it could serve as a promising target for the treatment of solid tumors.