Identification of ferroptosis as a novel mechanism for antitumor activity of natural product derivative a2 in gastric cancer

Ferroptosis is a type of cell death accompanied by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, thus stimulating ferroptosis may be a potential strategy for treating gastric cancer, therapeutic agents against which are urgently required. Jiyuan oridonin A (JDA) is a natural compound isolated from Jiyuan Rabdosia rubescens with anti-tumor activity, unclear anti-tumormechanisms and limited water solubility hamper its clinical application. Here, we showed a2, a new JDA derivative, inhibited the growth of gastric cancer cells. Subsequently, we discovered for the first time that a2 induced ferroptosis. Importantly, compound a2 decreasedGPX4 expression and overexpressingGPX4 antagonized the anti-proliferative activity of a2. Furthermore, we demonstrated that a2 caused ferrous iron accumulation through the autophagy pathway, prevention of which rescued a2 induced ferrous iron elevation and cell growth inhibition. Moreover, a2 exhibited more potent anti-cancer activity than 5-fluorouracil in gastric cancer cell line-derived xenograftmicemodels. Patient-derived tumor xenograftmodels from different patients displayed varied sensitivity to a2, and GPX4 downregulation indicated the sensitivity of tumors to a2. Finally, a2 exhibitedwell pharmacokinetic characteristics. Overall, our data suggest that inducing ferroptosis is the major mechanism mediating anti-tumor activity of a2, and a2 will hopefully serve as a promising compound for gastric cancer treatment. (C) 2021 Chinese Pharmaceutical Association and Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V.

Automated summary

The new JDA derivative a2 was found to inhibit the growth of gastric cancer cells and induce ferroptosis. Through the autophagy pathway, a2 caused ferrous iron accumulation, and prevention of this process alleviated a2-induced elevation of ferrous iron and cell growth inhibition, demonstrating stronger anti-cancer activity in gastric cancer xenograft models compared to 5-fluorouracil.