Abstract 182: A new anticancer agent derived from decenoic acid for the treatment of colon cancer
Authors: Masumi Suzui, Saeko Ando, Harutoshi Matsumoto, Katsumi Fukamachi, Mitsuru Futakuchi, Naoki Yoshimi
Journal: Cancer Research (2017)

Abstract The final goal of the current study is to create a promising lead compound that targets human colon carcinoma. After discovering in vitro antiproliferative activity of a naturally occurring compound, 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid, we designed and synthesized over 150 derivatives. The initial screening resulted in the discovery of three primary lead compounds, we then proceeded with modifications in side chain and eventually obtained a second-generation lead compound, named PPI (patented in 2014), whose IC50 was 0.3 μM. We focused on the transcription factor STAT3 that is able to drive carcinogenesis, apoptosis, and angiogenesis-related genes. In silico docking simulation exhibited that PPI can bind to SH2 domain of STAT3, suggesting that this drug blocks dimerization of STAT3, thereby PPI inactivates function of STAT3. PPI inhibited transcriptional activity of STAT3 when SW480, SW837, and HT29 human colon carcinoma cells were treated with 3.7 to 5 μM PPI for 24h. Flowcytometry analysis indicated that when HT29 cells were treated with 1 μM PPI, the percentage of cells in G1 increased by 5% and this was associated with a concomitant decrease of cells in the S and G2-M phases of the cell cycle. The results indicate that PPI causes carcinoma cells to arrest in the G1 phase. When HT29 cells were treated with 10 μM PPI, subG1 fraction and DNA fragmentation were seen, indicating induction of apoptosis. We then performed western blot analysis to determine whether treatment of carcinoma cells with PPI alters cellular levels of the G1 cell cycle control protein cyclin D1 and apoptosis/angiogenesis-related molecules. When HT29 cells were treated with PPI for 24 to 48h, there was a marked decrease in the levels of expression of the Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and VEGF proteins and a marked increase in the levels of expression of the cleaved caspase 3, 7, 8, 9, and PARP proteins. PPI also inhibited expression levels and nuclear tanslocation of pSTAT3. To see if PPI exerts preventive effect on tumor promotion, F344 rats received sc injections of a carcinogen azoxymethane and then treated with soybean oil or PPI. There was a dose dependent decrease in multiplicity of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in the colon. PPI inhibited the occurrence of larger ACF consisting of more than 4 aberrant crypts, indicating inhibitory effect of PPI on tumor promotion. In a mouse xenograft model, PPI decreased the size and number of blood vessels in the tumor. All mice survived without causing significant body weight loss during experiment. No histopathological abnormality was found in any of organ site. To confirm the effects of PPI on angiogenesis, we performed chorioallantoic membrane assays and found a dose-dependent decrease in average number of blood vessels. Inhibition of STAT3 by PPI may affect the function of molecules that are related to apoptosis, angiogenesis, and cell cycle progression and eventually contributes to PPI-induced growth inhibition. Citation Format: Masumi Suzui, Saeko Ando, Harutoshi Matsumoto, Katsumi Fukamachi, Mitsuru Futakuchi, Naoki Yoshimi. A new anticancer agent derived from decenoic acid for the treatment of colon cancer [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 182. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-182