Effect of Fucoxanthinol on Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Cells from an N-Nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine-initiated Syrian Golden Hamster Pancreatic Carcinogenesis Model

Background/aim: Fucoxanthinol (FxOH) is a marine carotenoid metabolite with potent anti-cancer activity. However, little is known about the efficacy of FxOH in pancreatic cancer. In the present study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of FxOH on six types of cells cloned from N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine (BOP)-induced hamster pancreatic cancer (HaPC) cells. Materials and methods: FxOH action and its molecular mechanisms were investigated in HaPC cells using flow-cytometry, comprehensive gene array, and western blotting analyses.Results: FxOH (5.0 mu M) significantly suppressed the growth of four out of six types of HaPC cells. Moreover, FxOH significantly suppressed cell cycle, chemokine, integrin, actin polymerization, microtubule organization and PI3K/AKT and TGF-beta signals, and activated caspase-3 followed by apoptosis and anoikis induction in HaPC-5 cells. Conclusion: FxOH may have a high potential as a cancer chemopreventive agent in a hamster pancreatic carcinogenesis model.

Automated summary

This study showed that FxOH has a significant inhibitory effect on certain pancreatic cancer cells by regulating cell cycle and multiple signaling pathways.