Sulforaphane inhibited expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α in human tongue squamous cancer cells and prostate cancer cells

Hua Yao, Huiming Wang, Zhuo Zhang, Bing Hua Jiang, Jia Luo, Xianglin Shi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

71 Scopus citations

Abstract

Previous studies show that a number of natural compounds from our diet have anticancer effects. Sulforaphane is the most characterized isothiocyanates (ITCs), which are identified in cruciferous vegetables. Sulforaphane is viewed as a conceptually promising agent in cancer prevention. Because of its ability to induce cancer cell apoptosis, it inhibits progression of benign tumors to malignant tumors and interrupts metastasis. However, the effect of sulforaphane on tongue cancer cell proliferation has not yet been reported, and the mechanisms that sulforaphane inhibits cancer development are still unclear. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) expression is associated with tumorigenesis and angiogenesis. It regulates the expression of many genes including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), inducible nitric oxide synthase, and lactate dehydrogenase A. In our study, we investigated the effects of sulforaphane on expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), which was overexpressed in many human malignant tumors, human tongue squamous cell carcinoma and prostate cancer DU145 cells. Sulforaphane inhibited hypoxia induced expression of HIF-1α via inhibiting synthesis of HIF-1α. Sulforaphane was also found to inhibit hypoxia induced HIF-1α expression through activating JNK and ERK signaling pathways, but not AKT pathway. Inhibition of HIF-1α by sulforaphane resulted in decreasing expression of VEGF. Taken together, these results suggest that sulforaphane is an effective chemopreventive compound against tongue cancers and prostate cell angiogenesis in vitro, and that the HIF-1α target provides a new sight into the mechanisms of sulforaphane's inhibition against tumor cell proliferation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1255-1261
Number of pages7
JournalInternational Journal of Cancer
Volume123
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 15 2008

Funding

FundersFunder number
National Childhood Cancer Registry – National Cancer InstituteR01CA116697

    Keywords

    • (HIF-1α)
    • Cancer
    • Chemopreventive
    • Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α
    • Sulforaphane

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Oncology
    • Cancer Research

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