Inhibitory effects of fucoxanthinol on the viability of human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 are correlated with modulation of the NF-kappaB pathway

• Published in: Cell biology and toxicology 2014-06, Vol.30 (3), p.157-167
• Main Authors: Rwigemera, Arlette, Mamelona, Jean, Martin, Luc J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Algae; Apoptosis - drug effects; beta Carotene - analogs & derivatives; beta Carotene - pharmacology; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - drug therapy; Cell Biology; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Cell Survival - drug effects; Cellular biology; Estrogens; Female; Gastrointestinal tract; Humans; Life Sciences; MCF-7 Cells; Metabolites; NF-kappa B p50 Subunit - antagonists & inhibitors; NF-kappa B p50 Subunit - biosynthesis; NF-kappa B p52 Subunit - antagonists & inhibitors; NF-kappa B p52 Subunit - biosynthesis; Original Research; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Pigments; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases - metabolism; Signal Transduction - drug effects; SOX9 Transcription Factor - biosynthesis; Transcription Factor RelA - antagonists & inhibitors; Transcription Factor RelA - biosynthesis; Transcription Factor RelB - antagonists & inhibitors; Transcription Factor RelB - biosynthesis; Xanthophylls - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0742-2091; 1573-6822
• DOI: 10.1007/s10565-014-9277-2

Fucoxanthin is a carotenoid present in the chloroplasts of brown seaweeds. When ingested, it is metabolized mainly to fucoxanthinol in the gastrointestinal tract by digestive enzymes. These compounds have been shown to have many beneficial health effects. The present study was designed to evaluate the molecular mechanisms of action of fucoxanthin and/or of its metabolite fucoxanthinol against viability of estrogen-sensitive MCF-7 and estrogen-resistant MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines. Fucoxanthin and fucoxanthinol reduced the viability of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells in dose- and time-dependent manners as a result of increased apoptosis. Furthermore, fucoxanthinol-induced apoptosis was more potent than that of fucoxanthin and correlated, for MDA-MB-231 cells, with inhibitory actions on members of the NF-κB pathway p65, p50, RelB, and p52. Being overexpressed and regulated by NF-κB in different types of cancers, the transcription factor SOX9 was also decreased at the nuclear level by fucoxanthin and fucoxanthinol in MDA-MB-231. Taken together, the current results suggest that fucoxanthinol and fucoxanthin could be potentially effective for the treatment and/or prevention of different types of cancers, including breast cancer.