Chlorophyllin abrogates canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling and angiogenesis to inhibit the development of DMBA-induced hamster cheek pouch carcinomas

Chlorophyllin, a water soluble semi-synthetic food-grade derivative is reported to exhibit a wide range of beneficial health effects. We investigated the effect of chlorophyllin supplementation on Wnt/beta-catenin and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling in the 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced hamster buccal pouch (HBP) carcinogenesis model. Hamsters were divided into 4 groups. The right buccal pouches of group 1 and 2 hamsters were painted with 0.5 % DMBA for 14 weeks. Group 2 animals received in addition chlorophyllin (4 mg/kg bw) in the diet. Group 3 animals received chlorophyllin alone and group 4 animals served as control. mRNA and protein expression of components of Wnt, VEGF, and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways were analyzed by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. Dietary chlorophyllin administration suppressed the development of HBP carcinomas by altering the expression of several components of the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway. This was associated with inhibition of angiogenesis as evidenced by decreased expression of the proangiogenic factors HIF-1 alpha, VEGF, and VEGFR2. Chlorophyllin administration also downregulated the expression of histone deacetylases involved in epigenetic regulation of tumor angiogenesis. Dietary chlorophyllin that abrogates Wnt/beta-catenin and VEGF signaling by targeting a multitude of key signaling molecules is an attractive candidate for preventing tumor progression.