Inactivation of Stat3 and crosstalk of miRNA155-5p and FOXO3a contribute to the induction of IGFBP1 expression by beta-elemene in human lung cancer

Abstract

Lung cancer: How a herbal ingredient inhibits tumor growth A compound found in one Chinese medicinal herb inhibits the growth of lung cancer cells by indirectly activating a protein with anti-proliferative properties. Hann and colleagues from the Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, China, uncovered the molecular pathways by which β-elemene, a natural compound isolated from the Curcuma wenyujin plant, mediates the anti-cancer effects. They showed that β-elemene inactivates the two important regulatory molecules, one protein and another small RNA, while also inducing the expression of one protein that promotes in killing cancer cells. These changes lead to elevated levels of the protein that prevents cell invasion and spread. Collectively, this altered signaling inside the lung cancer cell lead to reduced growth, in both cell-based culture and mouse model. The findings help explain why β-elemene has potential as a therapeutic agent in lung cancer.