Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides inhibit in vitro tumorigenesis, cancer stem cell properties and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in oral squamous cell carcinoma

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology 2022-03, Vol.286, p.114891-114891, Article 114891
• Main Authors: de Camargo, Marcela Rodrigues, Frazon, Talita Fonseca, Inacio, Kelly Karina, Smiderle, Fhernanda Ribeiro, Amôr, Nádia Ghinelli, Dionísio, Thiago José, Santos, Carlos Ferreira, Rodini, Camila Oliveira, Lara, Vanessa Soares
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antineoplastic Agents - administration & dosage; Antineoplastic Agents - isolation & purification; Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; Cell Line, Tumor; Cisplatin - pharmacology; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Epithelial-mesenchymal transition; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition - drug effects; Ganoderma lucidum; Head and Neck Neoplasms - drug therapy; Humans; Neoplastic stem cells; Neoplastic Stem Cells - drug effects; Polysaccharides; Polysaccharides - administration & dosage; Polysaccharides - isolation & purification; Polysaccharides - pharmacology; Reishi - chemistry; Squamous cell carcinoma; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck - drug therapy; Tongue Neoplasms - drug therapy; Tongue Neoplasms - pathology
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.114891

The polysaccharides of the millenary mushroom Ganoderma lucidum (GL) have been shown for decades to present anti-tumor activities, but few studies evaluated its importance on cancer stem cells and EMT process. Cancer stem cells (CSC) drive the development of carcinoma and are also involved in cancer treatment failure, being a good target for treatment success. Also, the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is involved in metastasis and cancer relapse. Besides that, the increasing incidence worldwide of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) became a public health issue with a high rate of metastasis and poor quality of life for patients during and after treatment. to evaluate G. lucidum polysaccharides (GLPS) in vitro effects on OSCC, focusing on hallmarks associated with tumorigenesis using the SCC-9, a squamous cells carcinoma lineage from the tongue. SCC-9 cells were treated in vitro for 72h with different GLPS concentrations. The controls cells were maintained with culture media only and cisplatin was used as treatment control. After the treatment period, the cells were evaluated. GLPS treatment changed cell morphology and granularity, delayed migration, decreased colony, and impaired sphere formation, thereby leading to a non-invasive and less proliferative behavior of tumoral cells. Additionally, GLPS downregulated CSC, EMT, and drug sensitivity (ABC) markers. These results show that the natural product GLPS has the potential to be an important ally for tongue squamous cell carcinoma treatment, bringing the millenary compound to modern therapy, providing a basis for future studies and the improvement of life quality for OSCC patients. [Display omitted]