Ethoxy mansonone G as an anticancer agent in estrogen receptor-positive and endocrine-resistant breast cancer

Abstract

Abstract Objectives To study anticancer effects, underlying mechanism and safety of ethoxy mansonone G (EMG) which is the potent derivative of mansonone G (MG) in breast cancer cells. Methods Anticancer, antimigration, anti-invasion effects and anchorage-independent growth were investigated by MTT, scratch, matrigel invasion and soft agar assays. Estrogen receptor (ER)-targeted genes and endocrine-resistant genes were assessed by RT-PCR and Western blot. Key findings Ethoxy mansonone G is the most potent MG derivative and has anticancer effects in ER-positive, endocrine-resistant and ER-negative breast cancer cells. Our results demonstrated that EMG can significantly inhibit estrogen-induced cell proliferation and the expression of ER-targeted genes in ER-positive breast cancer cells, suggesting the anti-estrogenic property of EMG which is consisting with the virtual molecular docking that EMG could possibly bind to the ERα. Moreover, EMG has synergistic effect with tamoxifen in endocrine-resistant cells. EMG also inhibited cell proliferation, invasion and anchorage-independent growth by reducing expression of genes involved in endocrine resistance and invasive factors during the metastatic process. Conclusion Ethoxy mansonone G has an anticancer effect in breast cancer cells and is possible to use as a therapeutic agent in patients with breast cancer.