Frontiers in Oncology (Nov 2019)

Psorachromene Suppresses Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Progression by Inhibiting Long Non-coding RNA GAS5 Mediated Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

  • Tong-Hong Wang,
  • Tong-Hong Wang,
  • Tong-Hong Wang,
  • Yann-Lii Leu,
  • Yann-Lii Leu,
  • Yann-Lii Leu,
  • Chin-Chuan Chen,
  • Chin-Chuan Chen,
  • Tzong-Ming Shieh,
  • Jang-Hau Lian,
  • Chi-Yuan Chen,
  • Chi-Yuan Chen

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2019.01168
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9

Abstract

Read online

The extract of the seeds of Psoralea corylifolia Linn. (P. corylifolia) have been shown to display anti-tumor activity. However, the prospects of the active compounds from this plant in the treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains unclear. In the present study, the antitumor effects of psorachromene, a flavonoid extracted from the seeds of P. corylifolia, were investigated using cells and animal models of OSCC; the downstream regulatory mechanisms were also elucidated. The results showed that psorachromene significantly repressed cell proliferation, migration, and invasiveness and increased the toxic effects of chemotherapeutic agents against OSCC cells. The repressive effects of psorachromene were attributable to the inhibition of EGFR-Slug signaling, and the induction of G2/M arrest and apoptosis in the OSCC cells. Additionally, we found that psorachromene induced the expression of tumor suppressor long non-coding ribonucleic acid (RNA) growth arrest-specific transcript 5 (GAS5) and the activation of its downstream anticancer mechanisms. Animal experiments also showed noticeable inhibition of tumor growth, without significant physiological toxicity. The findings indicate that psorachromene displays anti-tumor activity in OSCC, and warrants further investigation as a potential agent for clinical application.

Keywords