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Solasodine reverses stemness and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human colorectal cancer

Yu-Wen Zhuang1, Cun-En Wu2, Jin-Yong Zhou2

  • 1The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu Province Hospital of TCM, Nanjing, China; The First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China; Department of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
|October 1, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Solasodine, derived from Solanum incanum L, effectively inhibits colorectal cancer (CRC) stemness and invasion. This natural compound shows promise as a novel therapeutic agent for CRC treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Natural Product Chemistry
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Conventional chemotherapy for colorectal cancer (CRC) presents challenges including side effects, resistance, and metastasis.
  • There is a critical need for novel, selective anticarcinogenic agents to overcome these limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential of solasodine, a component of Solanum incanum L, as a therapeutic agent against human colorectal cancer.
  • To evaluate solasodine's effects on cancer stemness, invasion, and migration in HCT116 cells and in vivo.

Main Methods:

  • Colony spheroid formation assays were used to assess cancer stemness.
  • Transwell and scratch wound assays evaluated cell invasion and migration.
  • Expression of stemness markers (CD133, CD44, Nanog, Oct-4, Sox-2) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers were analyzed.
  • In vivo studies were conducted to validate the observed effects.

Main Results:

  • Solasodine dose-dependently inhibited HCT116 cell stemness by downregulating key stemness markers.
  • Solasodine significantly impeded HCT116 cell invasion and migration, particularly in the presence of TGF-β1.
  • The compound attenuated TGF-β1-induced EMT and reduced matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) expression, consistent in both in vitro and in vivo models.

Conclusions:

  • Solasodine demonstrates potent inhibitory effects on colorectal cancer stemness and invasion.
  • Solasodine may serve as a promising novel therapeutic candidate for colorectal cancer treatment.
Keywords:
Colorectal cancerEpithelial-mesenchymal transitionMigrationSolasodineStemness

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