Antitumor efficacy of α-solanine against pancreatic cancer in vitro and in vivo

PLoS One. 2014 Feb 5;9(2):e87868. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0087868. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

α-solanine, a steroidal glycoalkaloid in potato, was found to have proliferation-inhibiting and apoptosis-promoting effect on multiple cancer cells, such as clone, liver, melanoma cancer cells. However, the antitumor efficacy of α-solanine on pancreatic cancer has not been fully evaluated. In this study, we inquired into the anti-carcinogenic effect of α-solanine against human pancreatic cancer cells. In the present study, we investigated the anti-carcinogenic effect of α-solanine against human pancreatic cancer cells. In vitro, α-solanine inhibited proliferation of PANC-1, sw1990, MIA PaCa-2 cells in a dose-dependent manner, as well as cell migration and invasion with atoxic doses. The expression of MMP-2/9, extracellular inducer of matrix metalloproteinase (EMMPRIN), CD44, eNOS and E-cadherin were suppressed by α-solanine in PANC-1 cells. Moreover, significantly decreased vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and tube formation of endothelial cells were discerned following α-solanine treatment. Suppressed phosphorylation of Akt, mTOR, and Stat3, and strengthen phosphorylation of β-catenin was found, along with markedly decreased tran-nuclear of NF-κB, β-catenin and TCF-1. Following the administration of α-solanine (6 µg/g for 2 weeks) in xenograft model, tumor volume and weight were decreased by 61% and 43% (p<0.05) respectively, showing decreased MMP-2/9, PCNA and VEGF expression. In conclusion, α-solanine showed beneficial effects on pancreatic cancer in vitro and in vivo, which may via suppressing the pathway proliferation, angiogenesis and metastasis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasm Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / drug therapy*
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / metabolism
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / pathology
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Solanine / pharmacology*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • alpha-solanine
  • Solanine

Grants and funding

The study was sponsored from China National Natural Science Foundation (No. 81070372, No. 81370563), Zhejiang Provincial Program for the Cultivation of High-level Innovative Health talents and a Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Zhejiang Province, China (NO. WKJ2012-2-033, No. 2011ZA072), a District Research and Development Program of Longwan District of Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China (No. 2010YS5). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.