OncoTargets and Therapy (Dec 2019)

20(R)-Ginsenoside Rg3 Influences Cancer Stem Cell Properties and the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Colorectal Cancer via the SNAIL Signaling Axis

  • Phi LTH,
  • Wijaya YT,
  • Sari IN,
  • Kim KS,
  • Yang YG,
  • Lee MW,
  • Kwon HY

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 12
pp. 10885 – 10895

Abstract

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Lan Thi Hanh Phi,* Yoseph Toni Wijaya,* Ita Novita Sari, Kwang Seock Kim, Ying-Gui Yang, Min-Woo Lee, Hyog Young Kwon Soonchunhyang Institute of Medi-Bio Science (SIMS), Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Hyog Young Kwon; Min-Woo LeeSoonchunhyang Institute of Medi-Bio Science (SIMS), Soonchunhyang University, 25 Bongjeong-ro, Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do 31151, Republic of KoreaTel +82-41-413-5021; +82-41-413-5029Email [email protected]; [email protected]: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been proposed as central drivers of cancer relapse in many cancers. In the present study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of 20(R)-Ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3R), a major active component of ginseng saponin, on CSC-like cells and the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) in colorectal cancer (CRC).Methods: The effects of ginsenoside Rg3R on the colony-forming, migration, invasion, and wound-healing abilities of CRC cells were determined in HT29 and SW620 cell lines in vitro. Further, ginsenoside Rg3R was given intraperitoneally at 5mg/kg of mouse body weight to check its effect on the metastasis of CRC cells in vivo.Results: Ginsenoside Rg3R significantly inhibited CSC properties, but did not affect cell proliferation. Moreover, ginsenoside Rg3R treatment significantly inhibited the motility of CRC cells based on migration, invasion, and wound-healing assays. The inhibitory effects of ginsenoside Rg3R on CRC are potentially mediated by significant down-regulation of the expression of stemness genes and EMT markers in CRC cells in a SNAIL-dependent manner. Furthermore, ginsenoside Rg3R treatment decreased both the number and size of tumor nodules in the liver, lung, and kidney tissues in a metastasis mouse model.Conclusion: These findings highlighted the potential use of ginsenoside Rg3R in clinical applications for colorectal cancer treatment.Keywords: colorectal cancer, ginsenoside Rg3R, CSCs, EMT

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