Abstract 3477: Rosehip (Rosa canina) extracts prevent AKT-mediated cell proliferation and migration in triple negative breast cancer cells
Authors: Cagle Patrice , Martin Patrick 
Published: July 2017

Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive form of breast cancer, characterized by its lack of the human epidermal growth factor receptor-2, the estrogen receptor, and the progesterone receptor. AKT has been shown to promote cell proliferation and migration in triple negative breast cancer. Currently, the existing targeted therapy is of minimal benefit in TNBCs. Furthermore, adverse side effects and the emergence of drug-resistant cancer cells are of great concern. Natural products have received growing interest in recent years as an alternative medicine with potential anti-oncogenic properties. Rosehip extracts have been used as dietary supplements to relieve symptoms associated with gastrointestinal disorders and arthritis, and in our laboratory it has been shown to prevent cell proliferation in glioblastomas. This study investigated the efficacy of rosehip extracts in preventing proliferation and migration of a triple negative breast cancer cell line (HCC1395). HCC1395 cells treated with rosehip extracts (1mg/mL -25ng/mL) demonstrated a significant decrease in cell proliferation. The observed decrease in cell proliferation was equal to or better than the decrease of cell proliferation observed when inhibitor of the AKT (LY294002, 20 μM) signaling pathway was utilized. Rosehip extracts also demonstrate anti-migratory potential. Additionally, pretreatment of this cell line with rosehip extracts selectively decreased AKT, p70S6K, and S6K phosphorylation suggesting these extracts prevent TNBC cell proliferation and migration by blocking the AKT signaling mechanism. Western blot analysis and apoptosis studies demonstrate that rosehip extracts inhibit cell proliferation without promoting apoptosis, but induce cell cycle arrest.

To investigate the potential clinical application of rosehip extracts we examined whether rosehip extracts could enhance the chemotherapeutic properties of Doxorubicin (20µM), a chemotherapeutic agent used to treat breast cancer. Rosehip extracts demonstrated a greater anti-proliferative effect than Doxorubicin alone and is equally effective in combination with Doxorubicin. These data suggest that rosehip extracts are capable of decreasing cell proliferation and migration in a triple negative breast cancer cell line by blocking the AKT signaling pathway and by regulating the cell cycle. Moreover, rosehip extracts demonstrate a greater inhibition of cell proliferation, when given alone and combination with Doxorubicin. This investigation demonstrates that rosehip extracts may serve as either an alternative or complimentary treatment to current chemotherapeutic regimens for triple negative breast cancer.

Citation Format: Patrice Cagle, Patrick Martin. Rosehip (Rosa canina) extracts prevent AKT-mediated cell proliferation and migration in triple negative breast cancer cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3477. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-3477