Research Paper

Extract Of The Medicinal Plant Pao Pereira Inhibits Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cell In Vitro And In Vivo

Abstract :

Pancreatic cancers are enriched with cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are resistant to chemotherapies, and are responsible for tumor metastasis and recurrence. Here we investigated an extract from the medicinal plant Pao Pereira (Pao) for its activity against pancreatic CSCs. Pao inhibited overall proliferation of human pancreatic cancer cell lines with IC50 ranging from 125 to 325 g/mL, and had limited cytotoxicity to normal epithelial cells. Pancreatic CSC population, identified using surface markers CD24+CD44+EpCam+ or tumor spheroid formation assay, was significantly reduced, with IC50s of ~100 g/mL for 48 hours treatment, and ~27 g/mL for long-term tumor spheroid formation. Nuclear -catenin levels were decreased, suggesting suppression of wnt/-catenin signaling pathway. In vivo, Pao at 20 mg/kg, 5 times/week gavage, significantly reduced tumorigenicity of PANC-1 cells in immunocompromised mice, indicating inhibition of CSCs in vivo. Further investigation is warrant in using Pao as a novel treatment targeting pancreatic CSCs.

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