Fucoxanthin inhibits gastric cancer lymphangiogenesis and metastasis by regulating Ran expression

Lymph node metastasis is a key mechanism in gastric cancer (GC) metastasis and lymphangiogenesis is a vital step in the process of lymph node metastasis. Currently, there are no drugs which can treat lymph node metastasis in GC. Previous studies using the drug fucoxanthin have mainly focused on cell cycle arrest, induction of apoptosis, or inhibition of angiogenesis in GC. However, the effects of fucoxanthin on lymphangiogenesis and metastasis in GC have not been studied.

Cell counting kit 8 and transwell experiments were used to evaluate the inhibitory effect of fucoxanthin on cell proliferation, migration and invasion. HGC-27 and HLEC cells were co-cultured in a transwell chamber and the footpad metastasis model was established to evaluate lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastasis. The possible regulatory targets of fucoxanthin in GC were analyzed using human tissue microarrays, bioinformatics analysis, and molecular docking. The regulatory pathway of fucoxanthin was verified using confocal laser microscopy, adenovirus transfection and western blotting.

Tissue microarray and bioinformatics analyses showed that Ran was highly expressed in metastatic lymph nodes and has some predictive value for metastasis in GC. Molecular docking results revealed that fucoxanthin interacted with Met189 and Lys167 of Ran via hydrogen bonds. Mechanistically, fucoxanthin inhibits the nuclear transport of NF-κB by downregulating protein expression of Ran and importinβ, thereby inhibiting VEGF-C secretion, and ultimately inhibiting tumor lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastasis in vivo and in vitro.

Fucoxanthin suppressed GC-induced lymphangiogenesis and metastasis in vitro and in vivo by regulating Ran expression via the importinβ/NF-κB/VEGF-C nuclear transport signaling pathway. These novel findings provide the basis for the research and development of novel treatments using traditional Chinese medicine in treatment of lymph node metastasis, which has important theoretical significance and clinical value.