Cancer metastasis becomes an initial cause of cancer death in human population.
In many cancers, it has been shown that the high levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and/or MMP-9 are associated with the invasive phenotypes of cancer cells. In this study, we investigated the effects of cantharidin, a derivative of blister beetles which is one of the traditional Chinese medicines, on the adhesion, migration, and invasion of human bladder cancer TSGH-8301 cells. Cantharidin effectively suppressed TSGH-8301 cell adhesion, migration, and invasion in a concentration-dependent manner. Results from Western blotting, RT-PCR, and gelatin zymography assays indicated that cantharidin blocked the protein levels, gene expression (mRNA), and activities of MMP-2 and -9 in TSGH-8301 cells. Cantharidin also significantly suppressed the protein expressions of p-p38 and p-JNK1/2 in TSGH-8301 cells. Taken together, cantharidin was suggested to present antimetastatic potential via suppressing the levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression that might be mediated by targeting the p38 and JNK1/2 MAPKs pathway in TSGH-8301 human bladder cancer cells.
Written by:
Huang YP, Ni CH, Lu CC, Chiang JH, Yang JS, Ko YC, Lin JP, Kuo JH, Chang SJ, Chung JG. Are you the author?
Department of Physiology, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan.
Reference: Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013;2013:190281.
doi: 10.1155/2013/190281
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 23431332
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