New Approach for Treatment of Primary Liver Tumors: The Role of Quercetin

• Published in: Nutrition and cancer 2016-02, Vol.68 (2), p.250-266
• Main Authors: Brito, Ana Filipa, Ribeiro, Marina, Abrantes, Ana Margarida, Mamede, Ana Catarina, Laranjo, Mafalda, Casalta-Lopes, João Eduardo, Gonçalves, Ana Cristina, Sarmento-Ribeiro, Ana Bela, Tralhão, José Guilherme, Botelho, Maria Filomena
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - administration & dosage; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - pharmacology; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - pharmacology; bcl-2-Associated X Protein - metabolism; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - drug therapy; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - metabolism; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - pathology; Cell Cycle - drug effects; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Survival - drug effects; Chemotherapy; DNA Damage - drug effects; Flavonoids; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 - pharmacokinetics; Glucose Transporter Type 1 - metabolism; Hep G2 Cells - drug effects; Humans; Liver cancer; Liver Neoplasms - drug therapy; Liver Neoplasms - metabolism; Liver Neoplasms - pathology; Niacinamide - administration & dosage; Niacinamide - analogs & derivatives; Niacinamide - pharmacology; Phenylurea Compounds - administration & dosage; Phenylurea Compounds - pharmacology; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 - metabolism; Quercetin - administration & dosage; Quercetin - pharmacology; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 - metabolism; Tumors
• ISSN: 0163-5581; 1532-7914
• DOI: 10.1080/01635581.2016.1145245

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver tumor (PLT), with cholangiocarcinoma (CC) being the second most frequent. Glucose transporter 1 (GLUT-1) expression is increased in PLTs and therefore it is suggested as a therapeutic target. Flavonoids, like quercetin, are GLUT-1 competitive inhibitors and may be considered as potential therapeutic agents for PLTs. The objective of this study was evaluation of quercetin anticancer activity in three human HCC cell lines (HepG2, HuH7, and Hep3B2.1-7) and in a human CC cell line (TFK-1). The possible synergistic effect between quercetin and sorafenib, a nonspecific multikinase inhibitor used in clinical practice in patients with advanced HCC, was also evaluated. It was found that in all the cell lines, quercetin induced inhibition of the metabolic activity and cell death by apoptosis, followed by increase in BAX/BCL-2 ratio. Treatment with quercetin caused DNA damage in HepG2, Hep3B2.1-7, and TFK-1 cell lines. The effect of quercetin appears to be independent of P53. Incubation with quercetin induced an increase in GLUT-1 membrane expression and a consequent reduction in the cytoplasmic fraction, observed as a decrease in 18 F-FDG uptake, indicating a GLUT-1 competitive inhibition. The occurrence of synergy when sorafenib and quercetin were added simultaneously to HCC cell lines was noticed. Thus, the use of quercetin seems to be a promising approach for PLTs through GLUT-1 competitive inhibition.