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Homodimers of Vanillin and Apocynin Decrease the Metastatic Potential of Human Cancer Cells by Inhibiting the

Phatcharida Jantaree1,2, Kriengsak Lirdprapamongkol2, Wilailak Kaewsri1,2

  • 1Chulabhorn Graduate Institute , Bangkok 10210, Thailand.

Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
|March 2, 2017
PubMed

Insights

The food additive divanillin shows greater potential to inhibit cancer metastasis than vanillin. Both compounds, along with related molecules, target key proteins involved in cancer cell invasion.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Metastasis, the spread of cancer cells, is the primary cause of cancer-related deaths.
  • Vanillin, a vanilla flavoring agent, has demonstrated metastasis-suppressing properties in preclinical models.
  • Investigating food-derived compounds for anti-cancer properties is crucial for developing novel therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the antimetastatic potential of divanillin, a vanillin dimer, and related compounds (apocynin, diapocynin) in hepatocellular carcinoma.
  • To compare the efficacy of dimeric compounds against their monomeric counterparts in inhibiting cancer cell invasion.
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the antimetastatic effects of these compounds.

Main Methods:

  • Transwell invasion assays were performed to quantify cancer cell invasion.
  • Inhibition concentrations (IC50) were determined for vanillin, divanillin, apocynin, and diapocynin.
  • Western blotting was used to assess the phosphorylation status of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and Akt.
  • Molecular docking studies were conducted to predict binding affinities to FAK.

Main Results:

  • Dimeric compounds, including divanillin, were significantly more potent in inhibiting cancer cell invasion than vanillin and apocynin.
  • IC50 values for dimers were 26-34 times lower than those for vanillin and apocynin.
  • Both monomeric and dimeric compounds inhibited invasion by suppressing FAK and Akt phosphorylation.
  • Molecular docking suggested stronger binding of dimers to the FAK FERM domain.

Conclusions:

  • The food additive divanillin exhibits superior antimetastatic potential compared to vanillin.
  • Divanillin and related dimeric compounds represent promising candidates for further investigation as anti-metastatic agents.
  • Targeting FAK and Akt phosphorylation pathways is a key mechanism for the observed antimetastatic effects.
Keywords:
antimetastaticapocyninfocal adhesion kinasefood additivevanillin

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