8‑Gingerol regulates colorectal cancer cell proliferation and migration through the EGFR/STAT/ERK pathway

8‑Gingerol, which is extracted from ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe), has been shown to possess antioxidant and anti‑inflammatory properties. However, the antitumor effect of 8‑gingerol has not been fully elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the therapeutic potential of 8‑gingerol against colorectal cancer (CRC). The results demonstrated that 8‑gingerol significantly inhibited cell proliferation in CRC cell models. Treatment of CRC cells with 8‑gingerol resulted in dose‑dependent decreases in migration and invasion. The inhibitory effect of 8‑gingerol on CRC cell growth was attributed to cell cycle arrest and increased apoptosis. Moreover, to the best of our knowledge, the present study was the first to demonstrate that 8‑gingerol acted as an inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling. 8‑Gingerol inhibited CRC cell proliferation and migration by targeting the EGFR/signal transducer and activator of transcription/extracellular signal‑regulated kinase pathway, and the effects of 8‑gingerol depended on the expression of EGFR. Moreover, 8‑gingerol reduced the effective dosage of 5‑fluorouracil and, thereby, the toxicity of drug combination therapy. These data suggest that 8‑gingerol may be a promising candidate for the development of novel anticancer agents against CRC.